Study for Usefulness of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Subcutaneous Nodules

Cho, Hye Jin; Lee, Joo Heung; Yang, Jun Mo; Lee, Eil Soo; Kim, Won Serk; Lee, Ga Young; Kim, Kea Jeung

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonographic imaging is very useful tool to determine various neoplasms and inflammatory changes of the human body. In addition, thanks to the use of various frequencies in ultrasonography, subcutaneous and some dermal lesions can be evaluated without invasive procedures such as a biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules.
METHODS
We reviewed the medical records of 29 patients with subcutaneous nodules and analyzed the correlation between ultrasonographic findings and final biopsy findings. The HDI-5000 ultrasonography system (Philips, Eindhoven, Netherlands) with variable probes (from 5 to 12 MHz) was used in this study.
RESULTS
In 27 patients, ultrasonographic findings were matched with final biopsy findings. One pilomatricoma was misdiagnosed as a cyst and one hemangioma as lipoma. It was very interesting to find that two malignant tumors and one subcutaneous granuloma annulare were detected by ultrasonographic examination in the absence of any clinical clues.
CONCLUSION
Ultrasonography is a very useful, noninvasive, easy to apply, and relatively predictive tool for the evaluation of subcutaneous nodules. Although a skin biopsy is necessary for final diagnosis, ultrasonography would be a good substitute in the diagnosis of subcutaneous nodules when the patient refuses a skin biopsy and the nodule is located in a highly cosmetic area.