Immunoscintigraphy in ocular melanoma

Immunoscintigraphy (IS) of malignant tumors has become an encouraging tool in nuclear medicine. Early diagnosis of small lesions is mandatory for successful cancer therapy generally. The scintigraphic detectability of small lesions (<1 cm in diameter) by IS is shown in 86 patients suffering from ocular tumors (74 malignant choroidal melanoma, 8 benign choroidal nevi, 3 non-melanoma metastases, 1 post-traumatic hemorrhagic detachment) using 99m-TC labelled F(ab')2 fragments of the anti-melanoma monoclonal antibody 225.28S; this antibody recognizes the high-molecular-weight melanoma-associated antigen. No adverse effects were observed. In terms of true positive results, Single Photon Emission CT proved to be superior compared to planar scans (81 versus 46 percent true positive results). (author). 30 refs