Wang YK, Gao YJ, Liu J, Zhu QL, Wang JC, Qin J, Jin HZ. A comparative study of melanocytic nevi classification with dermoscopy and high-frequency ultrasound.
Skin Res Technol 2021;
28:265-273. [PMID:
34865255 PMCID:
PMC9907694 DOI:
10.1111/srt.13123]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Melanocytic nevi (MN) can be classified into three subtypes according to the depth of the nests of nevus cells which is important for management. High-frequency ultrasound (HF-US) can clearly reveal the lesion size, contour, depth, and internal structures. However, the HF-US studies of MN according to subtypes are limited. We aimed to describe the HF-US features of MN and explore its value in accurate classification.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to November 2019. Eighty-five patients with MN were included and examined by 50 and 20 MHz HF-US. The HF-US features were recorded including morphological flatness, depth, shape, boundary, internal echogenicity, hyperechoic spots, lateral acoustic shadow, posterior echoic patterns, mushroom signs, and straw-hat signs. Each image was evaluated by two physicians independently, and the consistency was tested.
RESULTS
Eleven lesions could not be detected by HF-US. The rest 74 lesions underwent ultrasonic analysis. MN appeared as strip-shaped or oval, hypoechoic areas localized in the epidermis and dermis under ultrasonography. A strong consistency between HF-US and dermoscopy of determining the lesion depth was achieved (κ = 0.935, p < 0.001). The hyperechoic spots were found in 57.6% intradermal nevi. The mushroom signs were seen in 34.8% intradermal nevi, and the straw-hat signs were seen in all the compound nevi.
CONCLUSION
MN can be correctly classified using HF-US, and it had a strong correlation with dermoscopic and clinical classification. HF-US could further reveal the internal morphological features of MN, which may support more precise classification and management.
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