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The Significance of Augmented Radiocolloid Uptake by the Spleen in Patients with Malignant Melanoma

Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
New York University, School of Medicine, New York, New York

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Arthur J. Sober, Dept. of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.

ABSTRACT

Increase in splenic uptake of Tc-99m sulfur colloid was noted in 47 of 147 (32%) patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma early in the course of disease. Patients with disseminated disease and/or clinical or laboratory evidence of hepatic dysfunction were excluded from study. Recurrence rate of 2 yr was higher for those patients with splenic scans demonstrating augmented uptake compared with patients having normal scans, 36% against 16% (p < 0.02).

These differences resulted from a much more favorable prognosis in women with normal scans contrasted with women with increased uptake, 6% against 26% (p < 0.05). Women with increased splenic uptake, and all men regardless of scan status, seemed to have a higher rate of recurrence than women with normal spleen scans. Scan status may be an adjunctive prognostic marker in women.