Nuclear Medicine in Early-Stage Melanoma: Sentinel Node Biopsy—FDG-PET/CT

• Published in: PET clinics Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 9 - 25
• Main Authors: Hindié, Elif, MD, PhD, Sarandi, Farid, MD, Banayan, Soraya, MD, Groheux, David, MD, Rubello, Domenico, MD, Vercellino, Laetitia, MD, Toubert, Marie-Elisabeth, MD, Moretti, Jean-Luc, MD, PhD, Lebbé, Céleste, MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2011
• Subjects: FDG; Follow-up; In-transit node; Lymphoscintigraphy; Melanoma; PET/CT; Radiology; Sentinel node; Staging; In-transit node; Staging; Melanoma; PET/CT; FDG; Sentinel node; Lymphoscintigraphy; Follow-up
• ISSN: 1556-8598; 1879-9809
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2011.01.001

Sentinel node status is the most powerful prognostic factor in patients with early-stage melanoma. This review discusses several issues of clinical interest and technical points for an optimized sentinel node biopsy (SNB) procedure. The role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is clearly established in patients with suspicion of locoregional or distant recurrence of melanoma before any surgical decision. However, its role at initial staging or follow-up of patients with localized disease or with positive SNB is less clear. Further research and efforts should focus on identifying which groups of patients are at specific high risk of early distant recurrence.