As melanoma survival rates continue to increase, optimal surveillance strategies for recurrences are needed, as are effective\r\nimaging modalities. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the current state of imaging modalities for surveillance\r\nof melanoma in the published medical literature to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of\r\nultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and CT-PET combined. Ultrasonography\r\nwas found to be the most sensitive and specific for detecting lymph node metastases, and PET-CT was the most sensitive and\r\nspecific for detecting distant metastases. In addition to identifying appropriate surveillance methods, future studies should focus\r\non the most effective and cost-effective intervals for performing these tests. In addition, the results from the meta-analysis related\r\nto sensitivity and specificity of the tests should be made available to doctors in community practice.
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