| Utility of 3-year torso computed tomography and head imaging in asymptomatic patients with high-risk melanoma. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 21540750 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
There is no general consensus regarding the optimal follow-up strategy for patients with melanoma. We sought to determine the utility and cost effectiveness of radiological restaging of patients with stage IIB-IIIC melanoma at the 3-year follow-up time point. A retrospective review of 210 patients diagnosed with stage IIB-IIIC melanoma seen in the Cutaneous Oncology Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center between January, 2001 and July, 2006 was conducted. Fifty-two patients were asymptomatic and continuously disease free and underwent restaging head computed tomography (CT) or MRI and torso CT scans 3 years after completion of local-regional therapy or initiation of adjuvant treatment. True positive, false positive and normal scans were identified and the cost per diagnosis calculated. Fifty-five percent of patients developed melanoma recurrences: 88% before 3 years (median time to recurrence 12 months, 95% confidence interval: 10-16 months). The majority of patients (69%) recurred with disease symptoms. Twenty-five head CT scans, 27 head MRIs, and 52 torso CTs were performed. One false-positive head CT and five abnormal torso CT scans (three false positive, two true positive) were identified. The total cost per diagnosis was $312 990. Extensive 3-year restaging imaging seems to be of limited value for symptomatic and continuously disease-free patients with stage IIB-IIIC melanoma. Furthermore, given the low risk of recurrence beyond 3 years, it is likely that subsequent routine imaging would have similarly low utility. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Erin R Derose; Alexander Pleet; Wei Wang; Virginia J Seery; Mee Young Lee; Sharon Renzi; Ryan J Sullivan; Michael B Atkins |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-4-30 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Melanoma research Volume: - ISSN: 1473-5636 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Apr |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-5-4 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9109623 Medline TA: Melanoma Res Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
|
The Cutaneous Oncology Program, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Descriptive Analysis of Workflow Variables Associated With Barcode-Based Approach to Medication Admi...
Next Document: Receiver operating characteristic analysis: calculation for the marker 'melanoma inhibitory activity...