title: Preoperative skin tumours thickness determination by  high-frequency ultrasound on head and neck region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-frequency ultrasound is non-invasive imaging method for examination of skin tumours.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to examine validity of 20-MHz ultrasound in preoperative determination of skin tumour thickness localized on head and neck region as a potentially useful tool for planning of the surgical intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three different skin tumours were preoperatively examined using Dermascan C (Cortex Technology, Denmark) 20-MHz ultrasound equipment. Maximal vertical thickness of tumours was preoperatively determined by ultrasound, and after surgical excision of tumours, on pathohistological preparations using Nippon-Kogaku ocular micrometre. All patohistological specimens were controlled for presence of tumour cells on specimens' margins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obtained correlation was very high, r = 0.82, without significant statistical difference (P < 0.01) between dimensions determined by 20-MHz ultrasound and histometry. There were no pathohistological specimens with tumours cells found on margins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Examination of skin tumours by 20-MHz ultrasound gives reliable additional information about tumour dimensions, sometimes important for therapeutic strategy.
authors: University of Nis, Medical faculty, Department of Deratovenereology, Clinic of dermatology and venereology Clinical centre Nis, Nis. bukid@eunet.rs
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Jovanovic
authors: Z U
authors: ZU
authors: Pesic
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography