Routine imaging to detect recurrences in high-risk melanoma patients.

8576 Background: Strategies for followup surveillance in melanoma patients are controversial and in general emphasize clinical exam as the primary screening method. We aim to determine the modalities that detected disease recurrence in high-risk melanoma patients being followed in adjuvant clinical trials. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a prospective database containing 4 adjuvant melanoma immunotherapy trials from 1998-2009, the results of which have been published in part. Patients with ulcerated or ≥1.5mm primary melanomas or completely resected locoregional disease or distant metastases were eligible within 6 months of surgery. They were screened with physical exam, lab tests, brain MRI, and CT scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis. Depending on the protocol, they were followed with physical exam, imaging and lab tests every 3-6 months in the first year and every 6-12 months in subsequent years. We here evaluate the method of relapse detection based on the site of relapse. Results: Of ...