MR imaging findings for differentiating cutaneous malignant melanoma from squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of using MR imaging findings for differentiating cutaneous malignant melanoma (cMM) from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

Methods: Preoperative MR images of patients with histopathologically proven primary cMM and primary cSCC were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the two pathologies.

Results: A total of 16 patients with primary cMM (7 men and 9 women; age range, 45-97 years; median age, 75 years) and 49 with primary cSCC (37 men and 12 women; age range, 46-90 years; median age, 76 years) were enrolled in this study. Intratumoral T1 hyperintensity compared to that of the dermis was more frequently observed in cMM than in cSCC (50 % vs. 4 %; p < 0.01). Superficial depression (51 % vs. 19 %; p < 0.05), superficial irregular margins (55 % vs. 25 %; p < 0.05), and reticular or linear T2 hyperintensity (27 % vs. 0 %; p < 0.05) were more frequently observed in cSCC than in cMM, respectively.

Conclusions: cMM predominantly exhibited intratumoral T1 hyperintensity, whereas cSCC predominantly exhibited superficial depression, superficial irregular margins, reticular or linear T2 hyperintensity.

Keywords: Cutaneous malignant melanoma; Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; MRI.