Pulmonary manifestations in patients with malignant melanoma during BCG immunotherapy. A preliminary report

Ten patients with malignant melanoma who were treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) were studied with chest roentgenograms, scintiscans with radioactive 67gallium citrate, and the single-breath diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (Dsb). Three patients (stage 1B) with normal findings had no evidence of progression of disease. Seven patients had abnormal findings on at least one test. Two patients (stage 3B and stage 4B) with focal uptake in the lungs on the scintiscan had metastatic melanoma. Three patients (stage 3B) with diffuse uptake on the scintiscan and a reduced Dsb had no evidence of progression of disease. One patient (stage 1B) with an abnormal chest roentgenogram had a benign pleural effusion, and one patient (stage 4B) with a reduced Dsb was free of melanoma. A diffuse increase in the uptake of radioactive 67gallium in the lungs and a low Dsb may not indicate progression of melanoma. On the other hand, a focal uptake of 67gallium in the lungs is highly suggestive of metastatic disease.