Routine X-ray of the chest is not justified in staging of cutaneous melanoma patients

TY - JOUR

T1 - Routine X-ray of the chest is not justified in staging of cutaneous melanoma patients

AU - Gjorup, Caroline Asirvatham

AU - Hendel, Helle Westergren

AU - Pilegaard, Rita Kaae

AU - Willert, Cecilie Balslev

AU - Hölmich, Lisbet Rosenkrantz

PY - 2016/12

Y1 - 2016/12

N2 - Introduction: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing in Denmark and worldwide. However, the prevalence of distant metastases at the time of diagnosis has decreased to 1%. We therefore questioned the value of routine preoperative chest X-ray (CXR) for staging asymptomatic melanoma patients and hypothesised that routine CXR is not justified. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients undergoing wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma in the period from 2010 to 2014. Results: A total of 603 patients were included. The mean time of follow-up was 34 months (range: 13-75 months). Of the 603 patients, 25 (4%) had a positive CXR and 578 (96%) had a negative CXR. Four (0.7%) patients had lung metastases of whom two had a true positive and two a false negative CXR, respectively. The sensitivity was 50%, specificity was 96%, the positive predictive value was 8% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CXR cannot be justified in the initial staging of cutaneous melanoma patients. The guideline for the treatment of melanoma in Denmark is under revision: The use of CXR has been omitted.

AB - Introduction: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is increasing in Denmark and worldwide. However, the prevalence of distant metastases at the time of diagnosis has decreased to 1%. We therefore questioned the value of routine preoperative chest X-ray (CXR) for staging asymptomatic melanoma patients and hypothesised that routine CXR is not justified. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients undergoing wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma in the period from 2010 to 2014. Results: A total of 603 patients were included. The mean time of follow-up was 34 months (range: 13-75 months). Of the 603 patients, 25 (4%) had a positive CXR and 578 (96%) had a negative CXR. Four (0.7%) patients had lung metastases of whom two had a true positive and two a false negative CXR, respectively. The sensitivity was 50%, specificity was 96%, the positive predictive value was 8% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CXR cannot be justified in the initial staging of cutaneous melanoma patients. The guideline for the treatment of melanoma in Denmark is under revision: The use of CXR has been omitted.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - False Negative Reactions

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Lung Neoplasms

KW - Male

KW - Melanoma

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neoplasm Staging

KW - Predictive Value of Tests

KW - Preoperative Period

KW - Radiography, Thoracic

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

KW - Skin Neoplasms

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27910800

SN - 2245-1919

VL - 63

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

IS - 12

M1 - A5317

ER -