Pre-Surgical Evaluation of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Using High-Frequency Ultrasound

Gamil, George; Sonbaty, Mostafa A; Sherif, Yossra A; Badary, Dalia M.; Tohamy, Ahmed M

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2022.274411

Pre-Surgical Evaluation of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers Using High-Frequency Ultrasound

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2022.274411

Abstract

Background: High-frequency ultrasound imaging is increasingly used as a noninvasive, accurate, and real‐time method to evaluate non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). It plays a complementary role in the physical examination and the detection margins of skin cancers.
Objectives: This study investigates the efficacy and accuracy of high-frequency ultrasound as a complementary method to ensure complete elimination of skin cancers with maximum preservation of function and aesthetics, with postoperative confirmation based on histopathological examination.
Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Forty-nine skin lesions in forty-seven patients underwent preoperative ultrasound examination using (6-19 MHz) probes. Ultrasound examination included lesion nature, thickness, invasion depths, and the subsequent excision size of the lesion circumferentially and in-depth.
Results: Forty patients had forty–two lesions. Ultrasound had the ability to differentiate skin cancers from fibrosis and to detect subclinical lesions extensions with better clearance of malignancy.
Conclusion: High-frequency ultrasound can provide additional information for preoperative evaluation of non-melanoma skin cancers with maximum preservation of function and aesthetics in addition to be a valuable non radiating tool for postoperative follow up for NMSC after surgical excisions to determine the presences or absence of early recurrence before skin ulceration.

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