The fourth and subsequent F-FDG-PET/CT scans obtained after completion of primary treatment added value to clinical assessment in patients with melanoma, a recent study found. Researchers performed a retrospective study of 232 biopsy-proven melanoma patients who underwent F-FDG-PET/CT scans. Of these, 71 patients had 4 or more follow-up scans after completion of primary treatment, with a total of 246 fourth or subsequent follow-up scans. They found:

• Of the total fourth and follow-up scans, 61% (150/246) were negative for malignancy, and 39.0% (96/246) were positive for recurrence/metastases.

• FDG-PET/CT was helpful in identifying malignancy in 6.5% of the scans performed without prior clinical suspicion, which ruled out malignancy in 28.5% of the scans obtained with prior clinical signs suggestive of recurrence or for secondary therapy assessment.

• The scan resulted in change of the patient’s management in approximately 16.7% (41/246) of the scans.

Citation: Mena E, Taghipour M, Sheikhbahaei S, Mirpour S, et al. 18F-FDG PET/CT and melanoma: Value of fourth and subsequent posttherapy follow-up scans for patient management. [Published online ahead of print June 28, 2016]. Clin Nucl Med. doi:10.1097/RLU.0000000000001275.