US DETECTION OF TENDINOUS METASTASIS FROM MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

The introduction of high frequency transducers has considerably improv ed the application of US in the study of musculo-tendinous diseases. W e report a rare case of tendinous metastasis from malignant melanoma. The tumour (high karyokinetic index, Clark level IV) arose 4 years ear lier in the dorsal region. The patient was admitted for pain in the le ft knee. A nodular hypoechoic lesion, 0.8 cm in diameter, poorly margi nated, located in the subcutaneous tissue and involving the patellar t endon was identified with ultrasound. Histological-examination confirm ed the diagnosis.