title: Assessment of Cutaneous Melanoma by Use of Very- High-Frequency Ultrasound and Real-Time Elastography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of very-high-frequency ultrasound as tool for assessment of skin melanoma by investigation of the correlation between the ultrasound measurement of the thickness of a melanoma and the histopathologically measured Breslow index. The secondary objective was to assess the potential role of real-time elastography in the preoperative evaluation of skin melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 42 cutaneous melanoma lesions in 39 adult subjects examined in the division of ultrasound of a department of radiology between September 2011 and January 2015. Gray-scale sonographic features at 40 MHz (thickness, echogenicity, contour) and real-time strain elastographic (qualitative and semiquantitative, strain ratio) characteristics were evaluated and compared with the pathologic results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The melanoma lesions had a homogeneous hypoechoic appearance with a regular contour and stiff or medium consistency. The mean difference between Breslow index and ultrasound thickness was -0.05 mm (95% CI, -0.24 to 0.13 mm), sustaining the absence of significant differences between these two measurements. A strong relation was identified between real-time elastographic appearance and strain ratio for the relations between lesion and hypodermis and between lesion and neighboring dermis (p < 0.002) or hypodermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that very-high-frequency ultrasound and real-time elastography can be useful examinations for comprehensive preoperative evaluation of cutaneous melanoma.
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Carolina M
authors: CM
authors: Botar-Jid
authors: 2 Department of Dermatology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Rodica
authors: R
authors: Cosgarea
authors: 3 Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur St, no. 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Sorana D
authors: SD
authors: Bolboacă
authors: 2 Department of Dermatology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Simona C
authors: SC
authors: Şenilă
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Lavinia M
authors: LM
authors: Lenghel
authors: 4 Department of Pathology, Emergency County Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Rogojan
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: Sorin M
authors: SM
authors: Dudea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
keywords: cutaneous melanoma; real-time elastography; very-high-frequency ultrasound