TL-201 WHOLE-BODY SCINTIGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

The aim of this study was to evaluate Tl-201 whole-body imaging in the detection of metastases prior to surgery in patients with malignant m elanoma. Whole-body imaging was performed in 30 patients with known or suspected metastases 5 and 30 min after administration of 150 MBq Tl- 201. The imaging results were compared with the histopathological find ings in each patient on a lesion-by-lesion basis. Of the 39 metastases proven histopathologically, 34 were detected by Tl-201 imaging (sensi tivity = 87%), including 4 in-transit metastases and one inguinal lymp h node metastasis which were unknown prior to investigation. Due to th ese additional findings on Tl-201 imaging, scheduled surgical therapy was changed in three patients. Tl-201 imaging was false-negative in fo ur lymph node metastases and one skin lesion, and there were two false -positive Tl-201 scans with tracer accumulation in inflammatory sites. The mean target-to-background ratio on the true-positive scans was 1. 72 +/- 0.37 and 1.67 +/- 0.41 (P > 0.05) at 5 and 30 min post-injectio n respectively In conclusion, Tl-201 whole-body imaging appears sensit ive and simple to perform in the detection of metastases prior to surg ery in melanoma patients.