The value of liver scintigraphy in choroidal melanoma

Radionuclide liver scintigraphy was performed as part of the initial diagnostic evaluation in 35 patients with choroidal melanoma and no overt evidence of extraocular metastic diseases. The scans were normal in all but one patient in whom a solitary hepatic defect (due to an hemangioma) was found. The results of this study suggest that routine liver scans are not indicated in the initial staging evaluation of patients with choroidal melanoma, normal liver enzyme levels, and no other evidence of metastasis because of the low yield of scintigraphically detectable disease under these circumstances.