Approach to ultrasound in oncology

In a multicenter investigation carried out in 13,590 patients, 85 primitive and secondary abdominal neoplastic lesions were detected, the incidence being 0.6%. On the basis of this investigation, the role of ultrasonography in the clinical diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of oncologic diseases is summarized. Ultrasonography is employed for three basic steps in the staging of neoplastic lesions: 1. detection of lesions, 2. diagnosis of their nature, 3. balance of extension (TNM). Ultrasonography provides a lower diagnostic accuracy than CT and MRI as the balance of extension is concerned, but it yields reliable results for the diagnosis of malignancy if completed by ultrasonography guided percutaneous biopsy. The possibility of ultrasonography in the follow-up of neoplastic lesions and its applications in the treatment of some tumors are discussed.