Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology in the early detection of melanoma metastases.

BACKGROUND. The early detection and treatment of tumor recurrences in melanoma patients is dependent on reliable, sensitive, and specific techniques to verify suspected tumor metastases. As of now, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has yet to establish itself in the routine follow-up of melanoma patients. METHODS. FNAC procedures were performed in melanoma patients with palpable tumors or nonpalpable, ultrasonically suspicious lesions. Cytodiagnostic evaluation of fine-needle samples obtained from suspicious lesions was performed morphologically. Findings were validated either by histopathologic diagnosis or prolonged clinical follow-up. RESULTS. The cytologic examination of 739 FNACs …