J A Avilés Izquierdo1, I Molina López2, P Sobrini Morillo3, I Márquez Rodas4, E Mercader Cidoncha5. 1. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Dr Esquerdo 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain. jaavilesizquierdo@gmail.com. 2. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Dr Esquerdo 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain. 3. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 4. Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon and Ciberonc, Madrid, Spain. 5. Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study the utility of positron emission tomography with computerized tomography (PET/CT) in patients with a stage I-III melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PET/CT findings from all patients with a stage I-III melanoma attended at our hospital from September 2011 to November 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: Data from 83 patients with a stage I-III melanoma, 39 patients with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and 35 patients with locoregional recurrences were analyzed. Sensitivity of PET/CT in clinical stage I-III patients was 5%, with a 14% of false positives. In patients with a positive SLNB, PET/CT previous to complete lymph node dissection had a 23% of false negatives. In patients with clinical locoregional recurrences, PET/CT findings revealed asymptomatic visceral distant metastasis in 25.7%. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT has a significant rate of false positive and negative results in patients with a stage I-III melanoma. Utility in patients with nodal locoregional recurrences seems higher than in patients with skin metastases.
PURPOSE: To study the utility of positron emission tomography with computerized tomography (PET/CT) in patients with a stage I-III melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PET/CT findings from all patients with a stage I-III melanoma attended at our hospital from September 2011 to November 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: Data from 83 patients with a stage I-III melanoma, 39 patients with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and 35 patients with locoregional recurrences were analyzed. Sensitivity of PET/CT in clinical stage I-III patients was 5%, with a 14% of false positives. In patients with a positive SLNB, PET/CT previous to complete lymph node dissection had a 23% of false negatives. In patients with clinical locoregional recurrences, PET/CT findings revealed asymptomatic visceral distant metastasis in 25.7%. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT has a significant rate of false positive and negative results in patients with a stage I-III melanoma. Utility in patients with nodal locoregional recurrences seems higher than in patients with skin metastases.