Annals of Surgical Oncology Cite Track
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, T. M.
Right arrow Articles by Sondak, V. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, T. M.
Right arrow Articles by Sondak, V. K.

Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol 4, Issue 5 396-402, Copyright © 1997 by Society of Surgical Oncology

ARTICLES

Computed tomography in staging of patients with melanoma metastatic to the regional nodes

T. M. Johnson, D. J. Fader, A. E. Chang, A. Yahanda, J. W. Smith 2nd, K. R. Hamlet and V. K. Sondak
Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0314, USA.

BACKGROUND: This study addresses the yield and clinical impact of computed tomography (CT) imaging in otherwise asymptomatic patients with stage III melanoma metastatic to the regional nodes. METHODS: The database from the University of Michigan Mutlidisciplinary Melanoma Clinic was reviewed and identified 127 asymptomatic patients with stage III melanoma (regional nodal disease) who received CT scans of the head, chest, abdomen, and/or pelvis. Scans were confirmed as true positive, false positive, and normal. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-six head and body CT scans were performed at the time of presentation of stage III disease. Twenty patients had a true-positive CT scan revealing unsuspected metastases. Fifteen patients had abnormal CT scans subsequently shown to be a benign process or second malignancy. The incidence of true-positive CT scans was not different between the groups of patients who had clinically apparent versus occult nodal disease. There was a significantly higher incidence of abdominal and pelvic metastatic sites identified by CT scan in patients with inguinal nodal disease compared with axillary or head and neck node-positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The yield of detection of unsuspected metastases by CT scans in asymptomatic patients with stage III melanoma was not insignificant. Because patients with resected stage III disease are recommended to have adjuvant interferon-alpha for 1 year, CT staging plays an important role in identifying appropriate candidates for treatment. The toxicity of interferon-alpha therapy is not insignificant. The value of routine CT in asymptomatic patients with nodal metastasis deserves further prospective study.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch DermatolHome page
T. M. Johnson, C. R. Bradford, S. B. Gruber, V. K. Sondak, and J. L. Schwartz
Staging Workup, Sentinel Node Biopsy, and Follow-up Tests for Melanoma: Update of Current Concepts
Arch Dermatol, January 1, 2004; 140(1): 107 - 113.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadioGraphicsHome page
L. Kostakoglu, H. Agress Jr, and S. J. Goldsmith
Clinical Role of FDG PET in Evaluation of Cancer Patients
RadioGraphics, March 1, 2003; 23(2): 315 - 340.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Society of Surgical Oncology.