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PET-CT of Melanoma

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Clinical PET-CT in Radiology

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Abstract

Due to the very high avidity of melanoma for FDG, FDG PET is a sensitive imaging technique in the detection of metastatic melanoma (M-staging) and is superior to CT for small lesions in locations other than the brain and lungs, particularly small metastases to lymph nodes, soft tissue, and small bowel. FDG PET appears most useful for patients at high risk for harboring distant spread who are under consideration for further surgical therapy. This generally applies to patients with more advanced disease (stage III and IV with isolated distant metastases). These patients may benefit from the identification of unsuspected or additional distant metastases with subsequent change in management by means of additional surgical resection or avoidance of unnecessary procedures. The most common indications for PET-CT in the initial staging of melanoma, then, would include patients with locoregional disease at high risk for distant metastases, including patients with in-transit and regional lymph node metastases based on clinical findings, biopsy, or sentinel node biopsy (stage III). PET-CT with its inherent whole body capability is arguably the best imaging option to search for metastases from melanoma, with the potential to change treatment plansas high as 48%. The routine use of FDG PET and hence PET-CT is not well defined in asymptomatic patients with clinically early staged melanoma (stage I and II). FDG PET is not indicated for thinner primary melanoma (<1.5 mm depth) because of low probability of disseminated disease at diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Radiology Services, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Spectrum Health Lemmen-Holten Cancer Center, 3264 North Evergreen Drive North East, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525, USA

    Paul Shreve

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  1. Chuong Bui
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  2. Paul Shreve
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Correspondence to Paul Shreve .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Radiology Services, North Evergreen Drive 3264, Grand Rapids, 49525, Michigan, USA

    Paul Shreve

  2. , Head, PET and SPECT Development, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, 11 Biopolis Way #02-02 Hel, Singapore, 138667, Singapur, Singapore

    David W. Townsend

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Bui, C., Shreve, P. (2011). PET-CT of Melanoma. In: Shreve, P., Townsend, D. (eds) Clinical PET-CT in Radiology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-48902-5_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-48902-5_24

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