title: B-Mode Ultrasound Imaging, Doppler Imaging, and Real-Time Elastography in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma and Lymph Node Metastases.
abstract: Examination by ultrasonography (US) is a rapid, sensitive, cost-effective, and even portable technique for confirming the presence of tumors. However, US is not routinely used worldwide for the diagnostic work-up of cutaneous malignant melanoma. High-resolution US using a 6-14 MHz or 5-13 MHz linear transducer enables the preoperative assessment of tumor size and thickness. Compared with physical examination, US is also very effective in the early detection of lymph node metastases. It can be easily repeated for the follow-up of cutaneous malignant melanoma and lymph node metastases. Ultrasonographic appearance of some lymph nodes may overlap, thus producing diagnostic pitfalls. In such cases with overlapping findings, Doppler imaging and elastography may additionally facilitate the evaluation of cutaneous malignant melanoma and lymph node metastases. US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) finally helps to confirm ultrasonographic results, thus improving the specificity and sensitivity in difficult situations in which US alone gives unclear results in lymph node assessment.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Clinical Physiology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Naga-izumi, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan. t.uematsu@scchr.jp.
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uematsu
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Naga-izumi, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan. juliasandydp@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasami
authors.affiliation: The Department of Dermatology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Naga-izumi, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan. y.kiyohara@scchr.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiyohara
keywords: B-mode ultrasound imaging; Doppler imaging; cutaneous malignant melanoma; lymph node metastases; real-time elastography