Radionuclide scans not indicated for clinical stage I melanoma.
One hundred and sixty-two scans of the liver and 160 scans of the brain were performed upon 230 patients with clinical Stage I melanoma. No patient was found to have a true-positive scan. However, there were two false-positive scans of the liver and two false-positive scans of the brain. One craniotomy, two arteriograms and numerous follow-up scans were done to confirm that these scans were false-positive. The cost of the 322 screening scans was $23,964, and the expense of follow-up evaluation was considerably greater. The authors have discontinued the use of scans of the liver and brain in the evaluation of asymptomatic patients with Stage I melanoma.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*