Clinical assessment of 67 Ga-citrate tumor scintigraphy in malignant melanoma

In a retrospective study of the value of 67Ga-citrate scan in cases of malignant melanoma, 63 scans were obtained from 22 patients. The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the 67Ga-citrate scan for detection of affected patients were excellent, that is, 85.7%, 100%, 95.2%, respectively. Of the 92 lesions of grossly or pathologically proven melanoma, 65 (70.7%) were detected by routine 67Ga-citrate scan. The smallest lesion that could be detected was the nodular skin metastasis of 4 mm in diameter. Many patients with positive 67Ga-citrate scan showed elevations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protain, lactic dehydrogenase and increased levels of alpha-2 globulin in serum total protain. The life expectancy of patients with an abnormal scan was shorter than that of patients with a normal scan. 67Ga-citrate whole body scan reliably revealed the extent of malignant melanoma, and is of value in clinical management. (author)