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Can an ultrasound detect enlarged lymph node?
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Can an ultrasound detect enlarged lymph node?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Can an ultrasound detect enlarged lymph node?

  • Post
    • December 18, 2014 at 2:09 am
    scalp MM 2014
    Participant

      Hi everyone.  I am new here.  Diagnosed with Stage 1B Malignant Melanoma on top of scalp in June this year. Due to complications I cannot have surgery under general anesthesia. My question is can an ultrasound detect an enlarged lymph node I may have in my neck and if so can it be biopsied accurately and treated without surgery?

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • December 18, 2014 at 5:32 am
        MattF
        Participant

          they can detect enlarged nodes and it could be biopsied yes.

          • December 18, 2014 at 5:32 am
          MattF
          Participant

            they can detect enlarged nodes and it could be biopsied yes.

            • December 18, 2014 at 5:32 am
            MattF
            Participant

              they can detect enlarged nodes and it could be biopsied yes.

              • December 18, 2014 at 6:34 am
              Janner
              Participant
                Ultrasound won’t catch microscopic disease but it can be used to monitor the size of a lymph node. (I’ve used it to monitor a breast lump for change). I’m sure they could do a fine needle aspiration under local, but if it were deemed suspicious or positive for melanoma, standard treatment would involve node removal (all the ones in proximity) and that is not typically done under a local or a block.
                  • December 18, 2014 at 4:31 pm
                  scalp MM 2014
                  Participant

                    Thank you both for your replies. Janner, do you know what kind of treatment I would be offered besides surgery.  Just trying to be educated should I need to make that decision. Also, do you know how big the node would be to detect melanoma on ultrasound that isn't microscopic? How long should I wait for it to grow?

                    • December 19, 2014 at 1:35 am
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      If the lymph node had melanoma, the only treatment you could be offered is Interferon — and that would be after removal of AT LEAST the affected node – possibly all local nodes.  Interferon after node removal is the only approved therapy for stage III.  However, it is a rough treatment and offers no survival benefit.  The only other option would be clinical trials.  But often prerequisites for clinical trials would be removing all the lymph nodes – and that would pose a problem for you. 

                      As for how big a node would be – it would not be a few cells – it would most likely have to take over most of the lymph node for a size difference to be found.  There has been a clinical trial for monitoring lymph nodes versus total node removal so it isn't a terrible idea, but I haven't seen the results of the study to see if they've come to any statistical significance on whether it's a viable way to go.

                      I'm afraid that surgery is considered the best first line option for melanoma – and if that isn't an option for you, it's going to be a bit harder to offer ideas.  You're best bet is to really talk to your medical team so they can work within YOUR parameters.

                      • December 19, 2014 at 1:35 am
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        If the lymph node had melanoma, the only treatment you could be offered is Interferon — and that would be after removal of AT LEAST the affected node – possibly all local nodes.  Interferon after node removal is the only approved therapy for stage III.  However, it is a rough treatment and offers no survival benefit.  The only other option would be clinical trials.  But often prerequisites for clinical trials would be removing all the lymph nodes – and that would pose a problem for you. 

                        As for how big a node would be – it would not be a few cells – it would most likely have to take over most of the lymph node for a size difference to be found.  There has been a clinical trial for monitoring lymph nodes versus total node removal so it isn't a terrible idea, but I haven't seen the results of the study to see if they've come to any statistical significance on whether it's a viable way to go.

                        I'm afraid that surgery is considered the best first line option for melanoma – and if that isn't an option for you, it's going to be a bit harder to offer ideas.  You're best bet is to really talk to your medical team so they can work within YOUR parameters.

                        • December 19, 2014 at 1:35 am
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          If the lymph node had melanoma, the only treatment you could be offered is Interferon — and that would be after removal of AT LEAST the affected node – possibly all local nodes.  Interferon after node removal is the only approved therapy for stage III.  However, it is a rough treatment and offers no survival benefit.  The only other option would be clinical trials.  But often prerequisites for clinical trials would be removing all the lymph nodes – and that would pose a problem for you. 

                          As for how big a node would be – it would not be a few cells – it would most likely have to take over most of the lymph node for a size difference to be found.  There has been a clinical trial for monitoring lymph nodes versus total node removal so it isn't a terrible idea, but I haven't seen the results of the study to see if they've come to any statistical significance on whether it's a viable way to go.

                          I'm afraid that surgery is considered the best first line option for melanoma – and if that isn't an option for you, it's going to be a bit harder to offer ideas.  You're best bet is to really talk to your medical team so they can work within YOUR parameters.

                          • December 18, 2014 at 4:31 pm
                          scalp MM 2014
                          Participant

                            Thank you both for your replies. Janner, do you know what kind of treatment I would be offered besides surgery.  Just trying to be educated should I need to make that decision. Also, do you know how big the node would be to detect melanoma on ultrasound that isn't microscopic? How long should I wait for it to grow?

                            • December 18, 2014 at 4:31 pm
                            scalp MM 2014
                            Participant

                              Thank you both for your replies. Janner, do you know what kind of treatment I would be offered besides surgery.  Just trying to be educated should I need to make that decision. Also, do you know how big the node would be to detect melanoma on ultrasound that isn't microscopic? How long should I wait for it to grow?

                            • December 18, 2014 at 6:34 am
                            Janner
                            Participant
                              Ultrasound won’t catch microscopic disease but it can be used to monitor the size of a lymph node. (I’ve used it to monitor a breast lump for change). I’m sure they could do a fine needle aspiration under local, but if it were deemed suspicious or positive for melanoma, standard treatment would involve node removal (all the ones in proximity) and that is not typically done under a local or a block.
                              • December 18, 2014 at 6:34 am
                              Janner
                              Participant
                                Ultrasound won’t catch microscopic disease but it can be used to monitor the size of a lymph node. (I’ve used it to monitor a breast lump for change). I’m sure they could do a fine needle aspiration under local, but if it were deemed suspicious or positive for melanoma, standard treatment would involve node removal (all the ones in proximity) and that is not typically done under a local or a block.
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