Detection of metastatic malignant melanoma by chest roentgenography

The latest premortem chest roentgenogram on 17 patients with known metastatic malignant melanoma was examined and the results were compared with the findings in the chest at autopsy. In nine of the 17, disease not visible on the roentgenogram was found at autopsy. Preliminary data would indicate that a significant number of these metastases could have been identified premortem by other radiographic modalities, e.g., tomography.