Efficacy of Diagnostic Ultrasonography of Lipomas, Epidermal Cysts, and Ganglions

Ultrasonography significantly increased the preoperative diagnostic yield of subcutaneous benign lesions (after palpation, 29%; after ultrasonography, 46%; P < .001). The sensitivity for the diagnosis of lipoma (after palpation, 54.8%; after ultrasonography, 88.1%; P < .01) and the specificity for the diagnosis of epidermal cyst (after palpation, 93.5%; after ultrasonography, 99.3%; P < .05) significantly increased after ultrasonography. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of epidermal cyst and ganglion also tended to increase after ultrasonography. Conclusion The study results suggest that ultrasonography is useful for the preoperative examination of subcutaneous benign lesions.