Impact of 2-deoxy-2[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose Positron Emission Tomography on the management of patients with advanced melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
Accurate staging of patients with melanoma is vital to guide appropriate treatment. 2-Deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) has been reported to be a sensitive and specific technique for the staging of advanced melanoma, however, few studies provide information regarding its impact on patient management.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the FDG-PET scan results of 92 patients with melanoma who had 126 scans performed over a six-year period. These patients were seen at the specialist melanoma clinic at our Institution, and 84 patients (92%) had stage III or IV disease. FDG-PET scan results were correlated with computed tomography (CT) scans and other imaging when available, and with clinical follow-up of a minimum of three to six months. The impact of FDG-PET scans on patient management was also assessed.


RESULTS
On a lesion-by-lesion analysis, FDG-PET had a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 88%, and an accuracy of 91%. FDG-PET correctly affected the clinical decision-making process in 40 of 126 patient studies (32%), particularly assisting in the selection of patients for surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET has an important role in guiding the management of patients with advanced melanoma, particularly when surgery is contemplated.
Harris
Marion T
MT
Centre for Positron Emission Tomography, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Berlangieri
Salvatore U
SU
Cebon
Jonathan S
JS
Davis
Ian D
ID
Scott
Andrew M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012272:Ribs / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18