Value of the extended field of view modality in the sonographic imaging of cutaneous melanoma: a pictorial essay.

摘要

High-frequency sonography (US) is the main noninvasive modality employed in the assessment of superficial spread during the staging and follow-up of patients with cutaneous melanoma. Recent series have demonstrated the accuracy of modern, state-of-the-art US in the detection and differentiation of satellite, in transit, and lymph node metastases. High-resolution US, with the contribution of Doppler techniques, allows a detailed morphostructural analysis of superficial abnormalities but has some limitation in the assessment of extended body regions. Carefully examining an entire limb can be time consuming for the operator. In addition, it is difficult or impossible to display multiple lesions simultaneously and to measure their relative distance.