title: The utility of positron emission tomography with and without computed tomography in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer.
abstract: Combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans are widely used in the staging and monitoring of most malignancies. The differential for PET-positive cutaneous lesions includes primary skin cancers, infections, cutaneous metastases from distant malignancies, and benign neoplasms. In dermatology, PET/CT scans have been most widely studied in patients with melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. The role of PET/CT scans in the management of other cutaneous malignancies is less clear, but it has shown great promise in the management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma. This review seeks to address the usefulness of PET/CT scans in nonmelanoma skin cancer and to provide guidance regarding the management of patients with incidental PET-positive nodules. Currently, there is limited experience with PET/CT scans for staging and monitoring of non-head and neck metastatic basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and results show limited sensitivity and specificity. We also address the evidence for management of an incidental PET-positive cutaneous nodule and recommend obtaining a biopsy specimen in patients with a known noncutaneous malignancy, a history of primary skin cancer, or a high risk of either cutaneous or noncutaneous malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio. Electronic address: jduncan257@msn.com.
authors.forename: James Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University, Ghanna, Ohio.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University, Ghanna, Ohio.
authors.forename: Benjamin Harris
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kaffenberger
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: F-18 FDG; Merkel cell carcinoma; PET; PET/CT; basal cell carcinoma; cutaneous lymphoma; nonmelanoma skin cancer; positron emission tomography; squamous cell carcinoma