The value of preoperative screening procedures in stage I and II malignant melanoma

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Abstract
Fifty patients with melanoma (30 with clinical Stage I disease and 20 with clinical Stage II disease) were analyzed retrospectively along with the screening test done prior to surgery. While the value of the chest X ray is unquestioned in preoperative screening, the same cannot be said of liver, brain, and bone scans. The bone marrow biopsy, however, done with a Janshidi needle was of value in detecting one patient with bone‐marrow metastases who on examination had clinical Stage II disease and precluded surgery in this same individual. Therefore, we feel that in the preoperative scanning of patients with Stage I or Stage II human malignant melanoma, and especially in the latter, the bone‐marrow biopsy should be done routinely in addition to a hematological profile, liver profile, and chest X ray.