Ultrasound-guided excision of nonpalpable malignant soft tissue tumors of the abdomen.

The use of intraoperative ultrasound to guide the excision of sonographically visible but nonpalpable lesions is a newer modality. Its use in intraoperative localization of recurrent malignant soft tissue tumors has not been reported. This report describes a technique of intraoperative localization by ultrasound to guide the excision of recurrent nonpalpable malignant soft tissue tumors of the abdominal wall in two patients. Tumors of both patients were successfully localized intraoperatively by ultrasonography and excised with adequate margins. This technique leads to reduced patient discomfort and anxiety, the avoidance of organizational requirements on the day of surgery, and allows for adequate margins of resection.