THE ROLE OF TC-99M SESTAMIBI SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY IN THEFOLLOW-UP OF MALIGNANT-MELANOMA AND THE DETECTION OF LYMPH-NODE METASTASES

In the follow-up of patients with malignant melanoma treated by surgic al resection of the cutaneous tumour, it is important to achieve early detection of possible lymph node metastasis. In many cases, clinical examination alone will not be sufficient, In our study, single-photon emission tomography (SPET) with technetium-99m sestamibi (MIBI) was us ed in the assessment of 30 patients with previously resected malignant melanoma when the clinical examination raised the suspicion of lymph node metastasis, Using MIBI, 16 out of 17 lymph node metastases were d etected and confirmed by histology. No false-positive results were obt ained during this prospective study, It is concluded that MIBI scintig raphy may be useful in the early detection of lymph node metastases of malignant melanomas. If our preliminary results are confirmed, early detection of lymph node metastasis of previously resected malignant me lanoma by Tc-99m-MIBI scintigraphy may have a significant impact on th e management of these patients.