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Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:1270-1274 doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.069823
  • Clinical science
    • Scientific reports

Whole body PET/CT for initial staging of choroidal melanoma

  1. P T Finger1,2,3,4,
  2. M Kurli1,3,
  3. S Reddy1,4,
  4. L B Tena1,2,3,5,
  5. A C Pavlick1,4
  1. 1The New York Eye Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
  2. 2The Saint Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
  3. 3The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York City, NY, USA
  4. 4New York University School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
  5. 5New York Medical College, New York City, NY, USA
  1. Correspondence to: Paul T Finger MD, The New York Eye Cancer Center, 115 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10021, USA; pfingereyecancer.com
  • Accepted 20 April 2005

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the value of whole body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in screening for metastatic choroidal melanoma in patients initially diagnosed with choroidal melanoma.

Methods: 52 patients with choroidal melanoma underwent whole body PET/CT as part of their metastatic investigation. PET/CT scans were used as a screening tool at the time of their initial diagnosis. A physical examination, liver function tests, and a baseline chest x ray were also obtained. PET/CT images (utilising intravenous18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG)) were studied for the presence of metastatic melanoma. The standards for reference were further imaging and/or subsequent biopsies.

Results: Two of 52 (3.8%) patients were found to have metastatic melanoma before treatment. The most common sites for metastases were the liver (100%), bone (50%), and lymph nodes (50%). Brain involvement was also present in one patient. One patient (50%) had involvement of multiple sites. Haematological liver enzyme assays were normal in both patients. PET/CT showed false positive results in three patients (5.7%) when further evaluated by histopathology and/or additional imaging. In seven patients (13.4%) PET/CT imaging detected benign lesions in the bone, lung, lymph nodes, colon, and rectum.

Conclusion: PET/CT imaging can be used as a screening tool for the detection and localisation of metastatic choroidal melanoma. Liver enzyme assays did not identify liver metastases, while PET/CT revealed both hepatic and extrahepatic metastatic melanoma. PET/CT imaging may improve upon the conventional methods of screening for detection of metastatic disease in patients initially diagnosed with choroidal melanoma.

Footnotes

  • Supported by The EyeCare Foundation, Inc, and Research to Prevent Blindness, New York City, New York, NY, USA

  • Competing interests: none declared

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