RADIOIMMUNODETECTION OF MELANOMA

Radioimmunodetection (RID) using anti-melanoma F(ab')2 fragments (225. 28s) was performed in 322 patients with malignant melanoma. A total of 232 patients were evaluable, 170 of them presenting with proven metas tases. With respect to the number of 'positive' and 'negative' patient s, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 74, 84 and 77%, respect ively. Considering the number of tumor localizations identified, sensi tivity, specificity and accuracy were 54, 84, and 56%, respectively. H owever, if only lymph node metastases were evaluated, sensitivity, spe cificity, and accuracy were 90, 82 and 88%, respectively. It is conclu ded that immunoscintigraphy, now a routine procedure n diagnostic onco logy, is best suited for the evaluation of melanoma patients with susp ected lymph node metastases. For other organ localizations, RID cannot provide additional information compared to conventional chest X-ray, abdominal sonography and CT.