Objective:

To evaluate the value of sono-elastography for detecting sentinel nodes in cutaneous malignant melanoma patients.

Methods:

Lymph nodes that were suspected to be sentinel nodes in cutaneous malignant melanoma patients were enrolled

and the lymph nodes were examined by routine ultrasound and sono-elastography. The results were compared with pathologic results.

Results:

Altogether 54 lymph nodes were finally enrolled and 2 lymph nodes close to the femoral artery were excluded. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of routine ultrasound

sono-elastography and sono-elastography combined with routine ultrasound were 56.3%/65.

8%/63.0%

75.0%/84.2%/81.5% and 81.3%/86.8%/85.2%

respectively. Sono-elastography had higher detecting accuracy than routine ultrasound (

P

0.05). If combined with routine ultrasound

the detecting specificity and accuracy could be even better (

P

0.05).

Conclusion:

Sono-elastography can offer extra useful information for the diagnosis of sentinel nodes in cutaneous malignant melanoma patients.