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An appraisal of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for melanoma staging
P Paquet1, F Henry, T Belhocine
1Department of Dermatopathology, University Medical Center Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Background:
Positron emission tomography (PET scan) using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is increasingly recognized as a reliable diagnostic method to detect metastases of malignant melanoma (MM).
Objective:
To compare the diagnostic performance of 18-FDG PET scan to that of conventional imaging.
Methods:
A total of 28 assessments were conducted in 24 patients at risk of metastatic MM.
Results:
The diagnostic accuracy was over 80% and similar for PET scan and conventional imaging.
Conclusion:
Both the specificity and sensitivity of PET scan are high although not perfect. Confrontation of data with anatomical location and clinicopathological findings remains mandatory.