Solitary pulmonary metastases in high-risk melanoma patients: a prospective comparison of conventional and computed tomography

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.141.1.169· OSTI ID:5549902

Heaston, D K; Putman, C E; Rodan, B A; Nicholson, E; Ravin, C E; Korobkin, M; Chen, J T; Seigler, H F

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 tomograhy 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.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, NC
• OSTI ID: 5549902
• Journal Information: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Journal Name: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States) Vol. 141:1; ISSN AAJRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
CHEMOTHERAPY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
IMMUNOTHERAPY
LUNGS
MEDICINE
MELANOMAS
METASTASES
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
THERAPY
TOMOGRAPHY