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

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.