[Detection of malignant melanoma metastases. Value of radioisotopic methods (author's transl)].

No single radioisotopic exploration is capable of detecting metastases of malignant melanomas, but the successive use of three different scintigraphic techniques (liver, bone and 67Ga citrate) has increased the detection rate from 55 to 68%. Since these metastases are small and may develop anywhere in the body, several methods must systematically be combined, particularly when one of them gives normal results. Experience has shown that 13% of metastases would have passed unnoticed if the three scintigraphic techniques had not been used.