title: FDG-PET in the detection of gastrointestinal metastases in melanoma.
abstract: We report six cases of malignant melanoma metastatic to the small bowel in which the information obtained from fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) contributed significantly to the management of the patients. In each of these cases the conventional diagnostic work-up missed findings that were important for treatment planning. We conclude that FDG-PET is a valuable modality in melanoma patients with suspected gastrointestinal involvement. It is also a sensitive technique for the diagnosis of other intra-abdominal as well as extra-abdominal metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, California, USA. tatlidilr@superonline.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tatlidil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandelkern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000494:pharmacology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18