Efficacy of ultrasound B‐scan compared with physical examination in follow‐up of melanoma patients

Abstract

The study found that ultrasound B-scan was highly effective in the early detection of regional melanoma metastases compared with physical examination. Earlier detection of such metastases seemed to result in improved overall survival.

Ultrasound Examination of Sentinel Nodes in the Initial Assessment of Patients With Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

“…[2][3][4][5][6] However, despite the high sensitivities and specificities reported for US in these studies, the true sensitivity and specificity of US in detecting lymph node metastases is unknown. In most of these studies, the histopathologic status of the lymph nodes examined with US and palpation was determined only if findings from US or palpation were suspicious.…”

“…In most of these studies, the histopathologic status of the lymph nodes examined with US and palpation was determined only if findings from US or palpation were suspicious. 2,[4][5][6] In another study, the histopathologic status of the lymph nodes examined with both methods was sometimes determined up to 6 months after a reported examination. 3 Not only do the true sensitivities and specificities of each method remain unknown, but the sensitivity of US in identifying clinically undetectable tumor deposits is also unknown.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6] However, the potential role of targeted US examination of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in the initial staging of patients who present with primary cutaneous melanoma has not yet been fully evaluated. Moreover, the minimum size of metastatic melanoma deposits able to be detected in lymph nodes by US examination has not been determined; this has important implications for follow-up protocols.…”

Intérêt de l’élastographie pour la détection des métastases ganglionnaires de mélanome

“…L'échographie a démontré sa supériorité par rapport à la palpation clinique seule pour la détection d'une atteinte ganglionnaire métastatique [1]. Mais il est à noter qu'elle n'apporte pas de gain en termes de survie [2].…”

Palpatorische und sonographische Detektion von Lymphknotenmetastasen bei lokal fortgeschrittenem malignen Melanom*

“…Dies umso mehr, als es sich zum einen um Untersucher handelte, die im Rahmen der dermatologischen Abteilung regelmäßig Patienten mit malignem Melanom betreuen, zum anderen um Kollegen des Ultraschallzentrums mit langjähriger Berufserfahrung. Auch in anderen Studien wurden stark schwankende Sensitivitäten für die Detektion von Lymphknotenmetastasen eines Melanoms durch die Palpation berichtet [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Zudem ist wohl bekannt, dass die Palpation an bestimmten Stationen besser gelingt als an anderen [10,13,15] [16,17].…”