0000000000143603
AUTHOR
Martina Kron
Efficacy of ultrasound B-scan compared with physical examination in follow-up of melanoma patients
BACKGROUND The value of ultrasound B-scan for routine follow-up of melanoma patients still is not generally accepted. Therefore, the authors compared the efficacy of physical examination (PE) with ultrasound B-scan (UBS) for detection of regional tumor recurrence in melanoma patients. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether early detection of metastases improves relapse-free and overall survival. METHODS For a period of 4 years, 829 consecutive melanoma patients were followed prospectively. Physical examination of 3011 patients and concomitant UBS of in-transit routes and regional lymph node basins were performed. Suspicious lesions were diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cyto…
Presurgical Ultrasound-Guided Anchor-Wire Marking of Soft Tissue Metastases in Stage III Melanoma Patients
Background. Due to increased sensitivity of diagnostic procedures, soft tissue metastases in melanoma patients are frequently detected very early. However, small sizes, deep location, or position close to vulnerable structures could render subsequent surgery quite difficult. Objective. To test the feasibility and effectiveness of presurgical ultrasound-guided anchor-wire marking of melanoma metastases. Methods. We selected melanoma patients with cytologically proven metastases in clinical stage III which were either unfavorably located or which have failed removal by previous surgery. Anchor-wire marking was performed ultrasound guided and free-hand style without the use of local anesthesia…
Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology in the early detection of melanoma metastases.
BACKGROUND. The early detection and treatment of tumor recurrences in melanoma patients is dependent on reliable, sensitive, and specific techniques to verify suspected tumor metastases. As of now, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has yet to establish itself in the routine follow-up of melanoma patients. METHODS. FNAC procedures were performed in melanoma patients with palpable tumors or nonpalpable, ultrasonically suspicious lesions. Cytodiagnostic evaluation of fine-needle samples obtained from suspicious lesions was performed morphologically. Findings were validated either by histopathologic diagnosis or prolonged clinical follow-up. RESULTS. The cytologic examination of 739 FNACs …