Real-time tissue elastography: A future potential helpful diagnostic tool for cutaneous melanoma?

Patients and methods: We here report on the additional use of real-time tissue elastography (RTTE) for the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in two patients. Patient 1 was a 72-year-old female with a black-brown tumor on her back. High resolution ultrasound (HRUS) with a 13 MHz probe of the tumor revealed an echopoor spindle-shaped structure. We additionally used RTTE as a new ultrasound method in the diagnosis of skin lesions. After applying light pressure with the transducer, the corresponding elastogram showed a predominance of dark blue areas within the lesion. Histopathologic examination of the excised tumor…