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Initial assessment of positron emission tomography for detection of nonpalpable regional lymphatic metastases in melanoma
Author(s) -
Wagner Jeffrey D.,
Schauwecker Donald,
Hutchins Gary,
Coleman John J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199703)64:3<181::aid-jso2>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - medicine , positron emission tomography , melanoma , positron emission , nuclear medicine , radiology , lymphatic system , positron emission tomography computed tomography , tomography , pathology , cancer research
Background The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of position emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG‐PET) for detection of nonpalpable regional lymph node metastases in patients with melanoma. Methods Adult patients with histologically proven cutaneous melanoma planned to undergo surgical lymphadenectomy for treatment of nonpalpable subclinical or residual metastatic melanoma in regional lymph node basin(s) participated. Each patient underwent attenuation‐corrected PET imaging of the regional lymph node basin(s) with F18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) followed by complete surgical lymphadenectomy. FDG‐PET scans were interpreted prospectively by an experienced nuclear medicine physician. FDG‐PET scan interpretations and histologic results were then correlated. Results Eleven patients underwent 12 FDG‐PET scans followed by 12 operations to clear 14 regional lymph noe basins. FDG‐PET correctly predicted the presence of metastatic melanoma in seven of seven surgical specimens. FDG‐PET scans correctly predicted the absence of disease in seven of seven histologically negative node basins. Sensitivity was 1.0; specificity was 1.0. Conclusions This study suggests that increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in palpably unremarkable regional lymph node basis in patients with melanoma is highly suggestive of metastatic disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 64:181–189, 1997 © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.