Role of technetium 99m-labeled monoclonal antibody in the management of melanoma patients.

PURPOSEA study was performed to assess the usefulness of a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody (MoAb; technetium 99m NR-ML-05 Fab) as a detecting agent, as well as to evaluate its role in the overall decision-making process in the management of cutaneous malignant melanoma.PATIENTS AND METHODSTwelve patients with histologically confirmed primary cutaneous melanoma and palpable regional nodes were injected with MoAb NR-ML-05 Fab, radiolabeled with 20 to 30 mCi of 99mTc. Whole-body anterior and posterior images were obtained. Left and right lateral views of the head and anterior and posterior views of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and extremities were obtained, as were selected single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) views of regional lymph nodes and areas of known or suspected lesions.RESULTSIn nine of 12 patients, clinical and/or MoAb evolution identified 30 discrete sites of suspected melanoma. The remaining three patients showed no positive sites, and there was no evidence of metastatic melanoma....