Aim. To evaluate the capabilities of ultrasound using various approaches in determining the depth of invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and to compare the results obtained with data obtained by the use of other diagnostic methods. Materials and methods. In our reserch, ultrasonography was performed on 193 patients with primary malignant tumors of the mobile part of the tongue, floor of the oral cavity and tumors of rare locations (mucous membranes of the lip, cheek, alveolar processes). The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 85 years. In all patients, tumors were squamous cell carcinoma. ultrasound was performed using submandibular, intraoral and transbuccal approaches. ultrasonic data were compared with the results of pathomorphological examination, as well as of X-ray computed tomography and of magnetic resonance imaging with contrast. Results. A statistically significantly high correlation was obtained for all ultrasound approaches (submandibular, intraoral and transbuccal) with the depth of invasion of the oral tumor determined pathomorphologically (r = 0.78; r = 0.89; r = 0.93; p <0.001). Ultrasound using all approaches shows statistically significantly better results in determining the thickness of tumorsof the tongue and mouth floor in comparison with X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (p <0.001). All diagnostic methods are characterized by an overestimation of the tumor invasion depth (overdiagnosis) as compared with pathomorphological examination. for exophytic tumors and oral cavity tumors of mixed growth with an exophytic component, the depth of invasion was less than the tumor thickness. Conclusion. Ultrasound is an accessible, easily reproducible, radiation-free method, the resolution of which makes it possible to accurately determine not only the depth of invasion of oral tumors, but also the distance from the tumor to the midline of the tongue, that represents an important information when choosing the extent of surgical intervention.

The article presents the most informative ultrasound (US) signs of unchanged, "reactive," lymphoproliferative and metastatic lymph nodes (LN). A literature analysis was conducted on the stratification of US-signs of malignancy of the LN, on the basis of which it was concluded that at present time there is no single classification of US-signs of pathological changes in the LN, existing classifications have been developed to assess the LN in some regions, include from 3 to 5 categories and are not used everywhere. Due to certain difficulties in interpreting the nature of the LN lesions associated with their localization, size, number, severity of response to the infectious process and presence of oncological history of the patient, it is justified to create a unified classification of US signs of the LN changes employing 6 categories that is similar to previously accepted classifications of radiation diagnostics TI-RADS, BI-RADS. For a wide discussion by experts, it is proposed a draft classification Node-RADS for stratification US-signs of surface LN.

The aim of this work is to assess the capabilities of ultrasound examination as part of the diagnostic algorithm in head and neck tumours. Five clinical cases of patients are presented with masses in the head and neck area, with different diagnostic approaches used. When examining the patients, the following diagnostic methods were employed: ultrasound examination, X-ray computed tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography, endoscopic examination, as well as contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination, endosonographic examination and ultrasound-controlled fine-needle puncture biopsy. The clinical cases described demonstrate the high diagnostic value of the ultrasound method. Ultrasound examination is a highly informative multiparameter examination method that can be used in patients with head and neck tumours.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent form of lymphoma and characterized by recurrent course and heterogenous clinical signs. Selection of treatment program for patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent FL is based primarily on the size of the tumor. While use of rituximab-containing regimens led to increased progression-free survival, in some cases tumors are refractory to rituximab. Understanding of molecular mechanisms of FL pathogenesis and action of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies allowed to develop new drugs with several advantages compared to rituximab. According to the data of large randomized trials, use of glycoengineered monoclonal anti-CD20 type II antibody obinutuzumab in combination with chemotherapy in patients with FL has manageable toxicity profile and longer progression-free survival and event-free survival compared to use of rituximab.

During long-term autoimmune processes, most commonly in patients with Sjogren’s disease (SD), lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) can develop. The risk of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) with involvement of parotid salivary glands is increased 1,000-fold compared to other immunomorphological variants. Some studies show that the main factors predisposing patients with SD to LPD are long-term enlargement of parotid salivary glands, generalized lymphadenopathy, cryoglobulinemic purpura. Application of an integrative approach to LDP diagnosis in patients with SD, identification of high-risk group for this malignant neoplasm promote its early detection. A clinical observation of a female patients with long-term SD which was diagnosed along with MALT lymphoma using an integrative approach to diagnosis of both diseases is presented.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecified (PTCLu) in most cases has an aggressive clinical course and is characterized by a high frequency of extranodal lesions. One of the manifestations of PTCLu, in particular Lennert’s lymphoma, is eosinophilia. Regardless of the development mechanism, eosinophilia can be accompanied by heart damage, leading to endomyocardial fibrosis, ventricular thrombosis and, in the final stage, to restrictive cardiomyopathies, which are manifestations of Loeffler’s endocarditis (LE). The presence of LE aggravates the course and prognosis of PTCLu, primarily limiting the possibilities of antitumor drug therapy. A multidisciplinary approach to managing a patient with PTCLu and concomitant LE makes it possible to diagnose and start both specific and cardiotropic therapy in a timely manner, ultimately improving the prognosis. A clinical case of a 44‑year-old patient with newly diagnosed PTCLu (Lennert’s lymphoma) and LE is presented.

In the presented observation, a female patient with diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (advanced stages) received R-ABVD regimen therapy. Return of clinical symptoms observed at the onset of the disease, as well as renewed growth of the lymph nodes after 4th therapy cycle showed refractory disease. Considering the results of earlier studies, generally showing high effectiveness of primary treatment of patients with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, reevaluation of immunomorphological type of lymphoproliferative disease was performed. After change of diagnosis to grade 3A follicular lymphoma, therapy was changed to obinutuzumab in combination with bendamustine leading to fast positive antitumor effect.

Aim. To evaluate advantages and disadvantages of transoral ultrasonography (US) in tongue cancer.Materials and methods. US was performed in 165 patients between the ages of 15 and 85 years with malignant tumors of the mobile tongue (74 (44.9 %) women, 91 (55.1 %) men).Among 165 patients, 144 had primary tongue tumor. The study also included 21 (12.7 %) patients with recurrent tumor which clinically could be represented by a true recurrence (tumor development 6 months after the end of treatment) or by continued growth (tumor development less than 6 months after the end of treatment). The study included patients with tongue tumors Т1 - 50 (30.3 %) patients, Т2 - 78 (47.3 %) patients, Т3 - 16.4 % of patients, Т4 - 6.1 % of patients.Three types of approach to tongue tumor visualization were used: submandibular, transoral, and transbuccal with a standard linear transducer (4-9 MHz) and intraoperative linear transducer (5-14 MHz). In total in 165 patients with tongue tumors, 147 (89.1 %) transoral US, 86 (52.1 %) submandibular US and 25 (15.2 %) transbuccal US examinations were performed.Results. Among 165 patients, agreement between the sizes measured using US and histological examination was observed in 142 (86.1 %) patients taking into account 15 % error.With increasing tumor thickness and, correspondingly, T criterion, increased frequency of agreement between US data and histological data was observed. Thus, for T1 stage frequency of agreement with US data was observed in 61.8 % of cases, for Т2 stage in 81.1 % of cases, for Т3 stage in 93.8 %, and for Т4 stage agreement was observed in 100 % of cases.Frequency of agreement with histological data in evaluation of tongue tumor thickness for transoral approach was significantly higher than for submandibular approach (р = 0.014). Transoral technique was more accurate for measurement of thickness of primary tumors - 80.3 % of results agreed with histological examination, and for recurrences frequency of agreement was only 33.3 %. Submandibular approach for primary tumors showed accurate measurements only in 67.6 % of cases, in recurrent tumors in 58.3 % of cases. Transbuccal approach also showed higher measurement accuracy for tumor thickness in primary patients (70.0 %) compared to recurrent tumors (40.0 %).Conclusion. Use of transoral ultrasonography significantly improves clinical staging of tongue tumors at the preoperative stage.

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is an aggressive primitive tumor with limited differentiation of rhabdomyoblasts. Primarily, it occurs in children and teens under 15 years of age in the head and neck region (in 40 % of cases). In patients older than 19-20 years, ARMS is significantly less common and is localized primarily on the limbs, while head and neck region is affected in about 24 % of all cases, involvement of the orbit in the tumor process is very rare. ARMS progression in adults is more aggressive than in children, and prognosis is more unfavorable due to development of regional and distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Hence, selection of antitumor therapy is limited to drug treatment. Use of multimodal approach to therapy allows to improve treatment outcomes and increase quality of life in patients with ARMS.

Follicular lymphoma is a tumor of mature B-lymphocytes, characterized by a predominantly indolent course. Despite advances in first-line therapy, disease relapses still occur, and with an increase in the follow-up period, the risk of transformation into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma also increases. The choice of a further anticancer therapy is based on the results of a comprehensive examination and repeated biopsy. In addition, previous remission duration, previous treatment, clinical manifestation of relapse, the patient's somatic condition and comorbidity are taken into account. A clinical observation of a 57-year-old patient with relapsed follicular lymphoma, who received various chemotherapy regimens in combination with rituximab in the 1st and subsequent lines, is presented. After repeated biopsy and exclusion of transformation into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the patient received lenalidomide therapy in combination with obinutuzumab. A partial antitumor response after 4 cycles with decrease in tumor volume by more than 80 % by the end of induction was achieved. The absence of severe adverse events, together with a pronounced antitumor effect, significantly improved the patient's quality of life.

Per the majority of authors, melanoma is the most common tumor diagnosed during pregnancy (31 % of all malignant neoplasms). In approximately 1/3 of women melanoma developed in child-bearing age is diagnosed during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. However, only some retrospective studies analyzed the effect of pregnancy on melanoma development, and conclusive data on development, progression and treatment of BRAF-mutant melanoma is lacking. In this subpopulation of patients, BRAF status supposedly can negatively affect disease outcome irrespective of treatment methods.The article presents a clinical case of recurrence of melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation during pregnancy. The patient underwent lymph node dissection during pregnancy prolongation, after labor she received antitumor drug therapy with МЕК and ВRAF inhibitors. Melanoma recurrence during pregnancy did not worsen treatment outcomes for the mother and embryo.

Background. Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of the lymphoid and hematopoietic system tumors. Neoplastic process often develops in head and neck area, including the integumentary tissues, orbit, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, pharynx, salivary glands, thyroid gland, as well as neck lymph nodes. The difficulties of head and neck lymphomas diagnosis are significant, since very often there is a combined non-tumor pathology. The high heterogeneity of lymphomas in the head and neck area requires structuring knowledge about their epidemiology and clinical manifestations.Objective: to study the epidemiological and clinical features of the head and neck lymphoproliferative diseases, which will lead to an improvement in diagnostic quality of this nosology’s.Materials and methods. The frequency of head and neck lymphoproliferative diseases detection was estimated based on the study of epicrisis and clinical data of 174 patients hospitalized at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology in the period from 2000 to 2020.Results. Taking into account the modern clinical and morphological classification of lymphomas of the World Health Organization (2017), information about the features of localization, characteristic signs of extranodal foci and lymph nodes is presented. Detection frequency of various subtypes non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphomas were determined on a sufficient cohort of patients.Conclusion. Based on the analysis of clinical and morphological features of head and neck lymphomas, epidemiological and clinical features are described in detail, and differences in the symptoms and clinical manifestations of non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphomas with a predominant head and neck involvement are revealed.

Objective: to determine the possibilities of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in identifying and evaluating the efficiency of chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM).Material and methods. The investigation enrolled 28 patients with CLM. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 – 15 pretreatment patients; Group 2 – 13 posttreatment patients with process stabilization. All the patients underwent standard B-mode ultrasound of the liver and that using the contrast agent SonoVue ® (Bracco, Italy), by recording and estimating the parameters of the intensity-time curve (CIV). Liver CEUS assesses the nature of contrasting metastases in three phases (arterial, venous, and delay ones).Results. The investigators identified three types of contrast agent accumulation in CLM in the arterial phase: along the periphery of the lesions (in 60% of the patients of Group 1, in 76.9% in Group 2), homogeneously over the entire volume (in 26.7% in Group 1 and in 0.08% in Group 2), in parallel with intact liver parenchyma (13.3% in Group 1 and 23.02% in Group 2). In the delay phase, more metastases were detected in 4 cases (14.3%). Estimation of CIV parameters showed a difference at the beginning of contrast enhancement stages between the patients in both groups. Group 1 exhibited the early contrasting of liver metastases (19.3 sec); Group 2 displayed the late washout of a contrast agent (65.9 sec).Conclusion. CEUS versus B-mode ultrasound improves the imaging of liver metastases. The change in the vascular architectonics and hemodynamics in CLM after chemotherapy is reflected in the alteration of the rate of contrast accumulation and washout from the metastases, which allows CEUS to be used in the evaluation of the efficiency of this treatment.

The article presents the literature review of modern approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell cancer of the oropharyngeal region and larynx. Various views on the treatment of patients with oropharyngeal tumors are presented. Special attention is paid to the ultrasound examination of patients with laryngeal tumors and to the possibilities of ultrasound in assessing the integrity of the laryngeal cartilage. Various ultrasound techniques for assessing the thickness and depth of invasion of oral tumors are highlighted. The features of regional anatomy that affect the informative value of visualization techniques are discussed. In the article presents criteria for assessing the prevalence of the tumor process in the adjacent organs and tissues, metastasis in regional lymph nodes.

Objective : to evaluate the possibilities of ultrasound elastography for differentiation of reactive and lymphomatous superficial lymph nodes (LN). Materials and methods. The prospective study included 138 patients with enlarged superficial LN. Based on a previous histological examination, patients were divided into two groups: 1st group (n = 108) – patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and Hodgkin’s lymphoma; 2nd (n = 30) – patients with reactive (inflammatory) changes in superficial LN. All patients underwent ultrasound elastography of the enlarged LN using ARFI technology. Results . According to the results of ultrasound elastography, the average, minimum, and maximum shear wave velocities for enlarged LN in lymphoma (1st group) were 2.616 ± 0.684; 1.980 ± 0.557 and 3.351 ± 0.987 m / s, respectively; for LN with reactive changes (2nd group) – 1.704 ± 0.223; 1.414 ± 0.209 and 2.027 ± 0.261 m / s, respectively. Thus, the average, minimum, and maximum values of shear wave velocities significantly different between the groups (p ˂0.001). The cut off values of the average shear wave velocity in the differential diagnosis of lymphoma and hyperplasia are determined at the level of 2.05 m / s, with a sensitivity of 88.5 %, specificity of 100 %, and AUC of 0.942 (p ˂0.001). Conclusion . Ultrasound elastography demonstrated statistically significant differences in shear wave velocity in the enlarged superficial LN in lymphoma and in inflammatory processes that can be used as a preliminary non-invasive differential diagnosis of enlarged superficial LN in these conditions.

The study objective is to assess the capabilities of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas and in the evaluation of treatment efficacy (changes in tumor volume). Materials and methods. This study included 98 patients (27 (27.5 %) females and 71 (72.5 %) males aged between 20 and 78 years with oropharyngeal tumors; of them, 12 (12.2 %) patients had recurrent tumors. Sixty-seven (68.4 %) participants had their tumors located in the tonsils; 31 (31.6 %) patients had tumors of the root of the tongue; 47 (48.0 %) patients presented with tumors invading adjacent tissues; 57 (58.2 %) patients had their lymph nodes involved. Thirty-two patients were operated at the first stage of treatment, whereas 66 (67.3 %) individuals received induction chemotherapy followed by sequential chemoradiotherapy. Treatment efficacy was evaluated 2 weeks following the completion of the second course of induction chemotherapy. We assessed tumor volume, its structure, type and intensity of vascularization, and the number and size of lymph nodes affected by metastasis. Ultrasonography findings were compared with the results of fibroscopy, X-ray computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 2 weeks following the completion of the second course of induction chemotherapy (no later than 7–10 days). Results. The disagreement between histology and ultrasonography findings reflecting tumor volume (of either newly diagnosed or recurrent tumor) was statistically insignificant. The results of X-ray CT were more likely to be in agreement with histology than the ultrasonography results (85.0 % vs 70.0 %); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Data of X-ray CT and ultrasonography on the tumor volume demonstrated no significant difference between them. MRI and ultrasonography findings on the tumor volume were consistent in 50 % of cases. We identified the most common changes in the structure of the oropharyngeal tumors typical of positive and negative dynamics after 2 courses of induction chemotherapy. Patients with positive dynamics demonstrated a significant decrease in tumor volume detected by all diagnostic methods used (ultrasonography, X-ray CT, and MRI). There was a significant negative correlation between the efficacy of treatment assessed by ultrasonography and the grade of therapeutic pathomorphosis assessed by histology (r = –0.69; р = 0.0014). Conclusion. The accuracy of ultrasonography for the estimation of oropharyngeal tumor volume and its spread is comparable with that of X-ray CT and MRI. The disagreement between these methods was statistically insignificant. Ultrasonography is a more sensitive method for the evaluation of patient response to treatment than clinical data.

The study objective is to evaluate the capacity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Materials and methods. We examined 34 patients with head and neck tumors (or suspected of having a tumor) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging with sulfur hexafluoride.Results. Contrast enhancement of primary and recurrent tumors (developed within 3 months since the end of treatment) was characterized by rapid wash-in (including peak enhancement) and wash-out of contrast agent. However, recurrent tumors (developed within 3 months after treatment) demonstrated slightly slower wash-in than primary tumors. In patients with suspected relapse, which was not confirmed by histological examination, contrast agent accumulated only in the surrounding tissues and did not penetrate into the fibrous infiltrate; there were no wash-in and wash-out phases (although this did not exclude the presence of small tumors in the infiltrate). By contrast, tumors demonstrated rapid achievement of peak enhancement and fast wash-out. Laryngeal and laryngopharyngeal tumors accumulate and release contrast agent like any other oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Laryngeal cartilages have high echogenicity and don’t accumulate contrast agent. Tumor-altered vocal cords accumulate contrast agent, which significantly improves the visualization. Intact vocal cords appear as hyperechogenic symmetric structures on B-scans. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging allows better visualization of the vocal cords. Contrast-enhancement can significantly improve the diagnostic value of ultrasound examination of the larynx, especially when B-scanning is hindered by some anatomical features (such as large Adam’s apple) or ossification of laryngeal cartilages.Conclusion. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of the head and neck is a highly promising diagnostic tool, although it requires further evaluation. Improved visualization with contrast-enhancement increases the diagnostic value of the method for the differentiation between various tumors and fibrotic changes and detection of tumor spread to the laryngeal cartilages, which is important for surgical treatment and planning anticancer therapy.

Aim. The study objective is studying the possibility of endosonography in the diagnosis of tumor and pretumor pathology of the larynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx. Materials and methods. Endosonographic study was conducted in 20 patients with tumors and suspected tumors of the larynx, laryngopharynx and oropharynx. Results. The use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) method was useful and important in determining the thickness and structure of the tumor, with hyperplasia of the lingual and palatine tonsils. Endosonographic picture of fibrous changes after surgery and post-radiation changes, lack of blood flow in the fibrous tissue and blurred contours gave additional information in the differential diagnosis of tumor and non-tumor changes. The results of the ultrasound examination performed in the standard B-mode for the presence of tumors, cysts and formations, suspicious of the tumor of the submucosal layer of the oropharynx and larynx, which were not determined by endoscopic examination, were confirmed. Conclusion. Obtaining a sonographic image simultaneously with endoscopic examination of the formations in the submucosal layer of the oropharynx and larynx will shorten the diagnostic algorithm of the study in patients with pathological changes in this area. The use of endosonography made it possible to confirm the data obtained by ultrasound examination in B-mode and which were not confirmed by endoscopic examination.

The study objective is to evaluate the utility of ultrasound (US) examination in the diagnosis of laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and in the assessment of tumor spread. Materials and methods . We performed US examination in 100patients (7 females and 93 males) with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer aged between 36 and 85 years. We evaluated vocal cord mobility, condition of the laryngeal cartilages, and tumor invasion to the adjacent tissues within the larynx and beyond it. In all patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. Results. Seventy-five patients had primary laryngeal/hypopharyngeal tumors, whereas the remaining 25patients presented with recurrent cancer. Eighty-one participants were found to have laryngeal cancer; of them, 13 patients had tumors in the supraglottis; 67 patients had tumors located in the glottis; and 1 patient had a tumor of the subglottis. Nineteen patients were diagnosed with hypopharyngeal tumors. We have identified the most typical US signs of laryngeal/hypopharyngeal tumors considering their location and compared the results of US examination with histology of surgical specimens. US examination demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.1 %, accuracy of 91.9 %, efficacy of 47.0 %, and positive predictive value of 97.5 %. Specificity was not evaluated since we had no negative results. Conclusion. US examination is a highly accurate methodfor the diagnosis of both primary and recurrent laryngeal/hypopharyngeal tumors.

Purpose: Assessmen of the capabilities of ultrasound elastography, elastometry in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer recurrence. Material and methods: In order to assess the capabilities of ultrasound elastography and shear wave elastometry in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer recurrence, a complex study was conducted using 50 patients with suspected recurrence of the disease. All the patients were examined using the B-mode, as well as ultrasound elastometry in black and white or color coding and shear wave elastometry. The results of the study were analyzed and compared with traditional methods of the ultrasound research. Ultrasound examination was performed by means of the Acuson S2000 Siemens and Avius hi vision Hitachi devices using a linear sensor with a frequency of 5–12 MHz. Results: Ultrasound elastography improves visualization of relapses of thyroid cancer, increases the sensitivity of ultrasound diagnostics to 95 %. The elastography allows to reach specific indicators of shear wave velocity in the areas of interest. Conclusion: The results obtained allow the timely detection of disease recurrence, to assess the prevalence of the process, the need for reoperation, as well as its complexity and planned details, to reduce the time and cost of examining of the patients.