title: Positron emission tomography/ultrasound fusion technique in patients with malignant melanoma.
abstract: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT is commonly used to assess tumour recurrence in high-risk patients with malignant melanoma (MM). However, results can be ambiguous either because of the CT's insufficient soft-tissue contrast or non-specific FDG accumulation caused by inflammation. Ultrasound (US) can provide additional morphologic information that is superior to CT. For precisely combining PET and US findings, we used a real-time fusion technique based on navigated US (PET/US fusion). Here, we describe our results from patients where PET/US fusion proved helpful in differentiating unclear PET/CT findings. This fusion technique is likely to be helpful for decision making in MM patients and biopsy guidance.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freesmeyer
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsner
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goetze
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology and Allergology, SRH Clinic Gera, Gera, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaatz
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Winkens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: PET/US; PET/ultrasound; fusion imaging; malignant melanoma; ultrasound fusion