title: Sonography for locoregional staging and follow-up of cutaneous melanoma: how we do it.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sonography is being used with increasing frequency in the assessment of locoregional tumor spread in patients with melanoma. Nevertheless, to maximize its practical impact, sonography should be performed with state-of-the-art equipment, by specifically trained operators, and using a careful exploration technique and well-defined diagnostic criteria. In this "how I do it"-type article, we illustrate our practical approach to sonography of cutaneous melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We first illustrate the basic and advanced technical requirements; then we describe our exploration methods and our image interpretation approach; and finally, we report on our use of sonography as a guidance tool for interventional procedures. Special emphasis is given to methodological and interpretative clues, tricks, and pitfalls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sonography can be used in the initial staging of patients with melanoma, particularly in the screening of patients scheduled for a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure. Additionally, sonography can be used during patient follow-up to detect locoregional recurrence earlier than palpation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonography plays a growing role in the assessment of the superficial spread of melanoma. Nevertheless, state-of-the-art equipment and careful exploration by trained operators are necessary.
authors.affiliation: First 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: Sergio Venanzio
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Setola
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.forename: Mauro Mattace
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Raso
authors.forename: Adolfo Gallipoli
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: D'Errico
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*