ECHOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF NODULAR LESIONS OF THE SKIN

Abstract

ABSTRACT Echographic differentiation between clinically similar, nodular lesions of the dermis and subcutaneous fat was done in an attempt to open a new field of ultrasonic histopathology. Sector B‐mode echography with a 10 MHz transducer was done on 87 patients with nodular lesions in the dermis and subcutaneous fat, and the echograms were compared with microscopic findings. These consisted of nevus pigmentosus in 10, neurofibroma in 10, steatocystoma multiplex in 4, epidermoid cyst in 30, cavernous hemangioma in 4, lipoma in 10, panniculitis in 14 and malignant lymphoma in 5 patients. Neurofibroma and steatocystoma multiplex were as echolucent as lipoma, while nevus pigmentosus and epidermoid cyst were less echolucent. Small internal echoes were observed within the echolucent mass in 15 of 30 lesions of epidermoid cysts. Cavernous hemangioma, panniculitis, and malignant lymphoma were partially echogenic as well as echolucent.