title: Cutaneous melanoma: role of ultrasound in the assessment of locoregional spread.
abstract: This article illustrates the various aspects of locoregional spread of cutaneous melanoma, as imaged with grayscale ultrasound (US) and Doppler techniques. High-resolution US allows recognition of small, clinically occult melanomatous foci within the skin and lymph nodes. Consequently, it plays a major role in locoregional staging and follow-up of patients with cutaneous melanoma. We discuss the possibilities and limitations of US in the initial staging (primary melanoma, satellite metastasis, in-transit metastasis, and lymphadenopathy), selection for sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure, patient follow-up, detection of recurrence, and US-guided intervention.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Radiology, National Cancer Institute, "Fondazione G. Pascale," Naples, Italy. orlandcat@tin.it
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siani
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color