title: Malignant melanoma staging using whole-body positron emission tomography.
abstract: The correct staging of potentially metastatic melanoma is essential for an appropriate therapeutic attitude. Current methods include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and scintigraphy. Another tool is whole-body positron tomography using the radiopharmaceutical 2-fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose as an emitter because it accumulates inside neoplasms, especially melanoma. We report two cases of malignant melanoma in which computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested visceral metastatic spread. In contrast, whole-body positron emission tomography indicated the absence of metastases, and this was confirmed by histological examination of the organs where metastases were suspected. Whole-body positron emission tomography appears to have high specificity and sensitivity for clinical melanoma staging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hustinx
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Piérard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18