PET/CT imaging for metastatic choroidal melanoma
Imagen de PET/CT de melanoma coroideo metastásico
V. Wiwanitkit
Tropical Medicine Departament. Hainan Medical University. Haikon. China
Recepción: 8 de septiembre de 2014
Aceptación definitiva: 9 de octubre de 2014
Corresponding author:
Viroj Wiwanitkit
Tropical Medicine Departament
Hainan Medical University. Haikon. China
E-mail: virojwiwan@hotmail.com
Dear Director:
The report on «Whole body PET/CT imaging metastatic choroidal melanoma»1 is very interesting. Rodríguez-Marco et al concluded that «PET/CT is a sensitive tool for the detection and localization of hepatic and extrahepatic metastatic choroidal melanoma»1. In fact, PET/CT is confirmed for its usefulness in following up choroidal melanoma. Finger et al. noted that «PET/CT imaging may improve upon the conventional methods of screening for detection of metastatic disease in patients initially diagnosed with choroidal melanoma»2. Kurli et al also proposed that «same conclusion» as Rodríguez-Marco et al that PET/CT is «is a sensitive tool for the detection and localization of hepatic and extra-hepatic (particularly osseous) metastatic choroidal melanoma»3. However, the limitation of using PET/CT in melanoma is still observed. As noted by Keu and Iagaru, «early stage evaluation of melanoma» is still the challenge that needs further improvement4. Finally, the use of whole body PET/CT is limited to detect small metastases5. It is suggested to use focused regional PET/CT in those cases suspected for early small metastases5.
References
1. Rodríguez-MArco N, Caicedo-Zamudio C, Solanas-Álava S, Gil-Arnaiz I, Córdoba-Iturriagagoitia A, Andonegui-Navarro J. Whole body PET/CT imaging for detection of metastatic choroidal melanoma. An Sist Sanit Navar 2014; 37: 293-298.
2. Finger PT, Kurli M, Reddy S, Tena LB, Pavlick AC. Whole body PET/CT for initial staging of choroidal melanoma. Br J Ophthalmol 2005; 89: 1270-1274.
3. Kurli M, Reddy S, Tena LB, Pavlick AC, Finger PT. Whole body positron emission tomography/computed tomography staging of metastatic choroidal melanoma. Am J Ophthalmol 2005; 140: 193-199.
4. Keu KV, Iagaru AH. The clinical use of PET/CT in the evaluation of melanoma. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1102: 553-580.
5. Mojtahedi A, Solomon SB, Ulaner GA. Focused regional FDG PET/CT detects more osseous metastases than does whole-body PET/CT. Clin Nucl Med 2013; 38: 217-218.