Solitary pulmonary metastases in high-risk melanoma patients: a prospective comparison of conventional and computed tomography.
A prospective comparison of chest radiography, conventional tomography, and computed tomography (CT) in the detection or confirmation of solitary pulmonary nodules was made in 42 patients with high propensity for pulmonary metastases due to advanced local (Clark level IV or V) or regional malignant melanoma. Unequivocal nodules were revealed by chest radiography in 11 patients, conventional tomography in 16, and computed tomography in 20 patients. Both plain films and tomography in three of these 20 were normal, but follow-up verified pulmonary metastases. Computed tomography detected more pulmonary nodules than conventional tomography in 11 patients in addition to identifying lesions in extrapulmonary sites. Therefore, chest CT is recommended before institution of immunotherapy or surgical removal of a solitary pulmonary melanoma metastasis. Once chemotherapy had been instituted for bulky regional or cutaneous involvement, however, the findings of either conventional or computed tomography were comparable in this study.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Tomography, X-Ray
- Skin Neoplasms
- Risk
- Prospective Studies
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Middle Aged
- Melanoma
- Male
- Lung Neoplasms
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Tomography, X-Ray
- Skin Neoplasms
- Risk
- Prospective Studies
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Middle Aged
- Melanoma
- Male
- Lung Neoplasms