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Ultrasound-guided thermocouple placement for cryosurgery
W Abramovits1, R Pruiksma, S Bose
1Department of Dermatology, McAllen Branch, University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio, USA.
Background:
Although cryosurgical methods have high cure rates, imprecise estimates of both skin lesion depth and destructive temperature front location result in subjective technique in skin malignancy treatments.
Objective:
We evaluated the possibility of newer ultrasound equipment to assist in the precise placement of thermocouples in human skin.
Methods:
DermaScan C ver. 3 ultrasonographic equipment fitted with a sharp focus probe with a frequency of 20 MHz and a scan length of 12.1 mm was used to locate thermocouples with 27- and 30-gauge needles.
Results:
We successfully and reproducibly located thermocouples and thin needles, and accurately measured their distance from the skin surface.
Conclusion:
Ultrasound is a useful method for the accurate placement of thermocouples, and needles as thin as 30 gauge for monitoring in cryosurgery.