Melanoma & nuclear medicine: new insights & advances

The contribution of nuclear medicine to management of melanoma patients is increasing. In intermediate-thickness N0 melanomas, lymphoscintigraphy provides a roadmap for sentinel node biopsy. With the introduction of single-photon emission computed tomography images with integrated computed tomography (SPECT/CT), 3D anatomic environments for accurate surgical planning are now possible. Sentinel node identification in intricate anatomical areas (pelvic cavity, head/neck) has been improved using hybrid radioactive/fluorescent tracers, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT together with modern intraoperative portable imaging technologies for surgical navigation (free-hand SPECT, portable gamma cameras). Furthermore, PET/CT today provides 3D roadmaps to resect (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-avid melanoma lesions. Simultaneously, in advanced-stage melanoma and recurrences, (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT is useful in clinical staging and treatment decision as well as in the evaluation of therapy response. In this article, we review new insights and recent nuclear medicine advances in the management of melanoma patients.