[Ultrasound in oncology, current perspectives]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Ultrasound

Background:

• Ultrasound is often an additive diagnostic method in tumor staging.
• Limitations include interobserver variability and suboptimal acoustic conditions.
• Modern imaging modalities like CT, MRI, and PET-CT are prevalent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address specific oncological questions related to sonography.
• To define the requirements for ultrasound in tumor diagnosis.
• To emphasize the importance of sonography in the era of advanced imaging.

Main Methods:

• Review of specific oncological applications of ultrasound.
• Analysis of requirements for sonography in different diagnostic phases.
• Contextualization within European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) guidelines and clinical practice.

Main Results:

• Sonography requirements vary for primary diagnosis, staging, treatment response assessment, and aftercare.
• The study outlines the specific needs and applications of ultrasound in oncology.
• Integration of ultrasound findings with CT, MRI, and PET-CT is discussed.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound plays a crucial, albeit often complementary, role in modern oncological diagnostics.
• Understanding specific requirements ensures optimal utilization of sonography.
• This work provides a framework for applying ultrasound effectively alongside other advanced imaging techniques.