title: Gallium-67 scintigraphy in multisystem malignant melanoma.
abstract: In a prospective study of the value of gallium-67 scintigraphy in cases of multisystem malignant melanoma, 69 scans were obtained for 36 patients. No abnormality was found in 18 scans; in only 3 was there other evidence of disease. Of 54 sites of disease demonstrated by scintigraphy, 40 were correlated with other investigations: biopsy (5), surgery (7), autopsy (7), radiographic (13), or clinical (8). Metastatic melanoma was found in 37 (69%) of the sites; no such disease was found in 3 (5.7%). The life expectancy of patients with an abnormal scan was shorter than that of patients with a normal scan. Gallium studies reliably indicated the extent of multisystem melanoma, and are of value in clinical management.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes