[Digital 20 mhz sonography of the skin in preoperative diagnosis].

B-scan 20 MHz ultrasonography is a new non-invasive technique to study the skin architecture. In a study on 236 patients, we showed that ultrasonic investigations can provide an efficient means to determine the thickness and extension of tumors. In addition, ultrasound may help make the differential diagnosis. This method is particularly accurate in the measurement of tumor thickness of malignant melanomas and the determination of depth and width of basal cell carcinomas. Furthermore, b-scan ultrasound offers additional criteria for the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. We believe, therefore, that high frequency ultrasound in vivo can definitely improve surgical planning.