title: Nuclear Medicine in Early-Stage Melanoma: Sentinel Node Biopsy-FDG-PET/CT.
abstract: Sentinel node status is the most powerful prognostic factor in patients with early-stage melanoma. This review discusses several issues of clinical interest and technical points for an optimized sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure. The role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is clearly established in patients with suspicion of locoregional or distant recurrence of melanoma before any surgical decision. However, its role at initial staging or follow-up of patients with localized disease or with positive SNB is less clear. Further research and efforts should focus on identifying which groups of patients are at specific high risk of early distant recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hindié
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarandi
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banayan
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Groheux
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET Center, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Viale Tre Martiri 140, 45100 Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubello
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vercellino
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Elisabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Toubert
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint-Louis Hospital, University of Paris VII, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France.
authors.forename: Céleste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lebbé