Comparison of in vivo and ex vivo Elastography and Elastometric in the Diagnosis of Metastasis of Skin Melanoma to Peripheral Lymph Nodes

Purpose : To conduct a comparative analysis of the diagnostic effectiveness of elastography and elastometry in detecting melanoma metastases in lymph nodes using histological examination of a macropreparation as a reference method. The data obtained can help in the development of algorithms for noninvasive diagnostics and reduce the number of unjustified surgical interventions. Materials and methods : A prospective study of 14 macro-preparations of metastatically affected lymph nodes removed from patients with skin melanoma during elective surgical interventions was conducted. Conclusion : An integrated ultrasound approach combining elastography and elastometry demonstrates high accuracy in detecting metastatic lymph node lesions in skin melanoma.