THE EFFECTS OF BIOPSY ON THE INCIDENCE OF METASTASES IN HAMSTERS BEARING MALIGNANT MELANOMA.

Biopsies are often essential in establishing a diagnosis in lesions suspected of being malignant melanoma. Many physicians question the safety of such biopsies. Data on this point have been conflicting both with respect to animal and human studies. A high degree of variability in both tumor and host limits adequately controlled melanoma biopsy experiments in man. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of incisional and excisional biopsies on the incidence of metastases. Fortner's melanotic melanoma #1, a hamster tumor, was chosen for study because of morphologic and behavioral similarity to human melanoma. Incisional biopsies of this hamster melanoma tacked significant adverse effect on the incidence of metastases. Excisional biopsies of these tumors resulted in significantly fewer metastases than incisional biopsies or no biopsies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]