Purpose:
To evaluate 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose whole-body positron emission tomography/computed radiographic tomography (PET/CT) in staging of patients with conjunctival melanoma.
Methods:
Fifteen patients with T3 (n = 14) and T4 (n = 1) conjunctival melanoma were staged for metastatic disease with PET/CT imaging. PET/CT images were studied for the presence and distribution of metastatic conjunctival melanoma later confirmed by biopsy.Foci of metastatic disease were identified by standardized uptake values (SUV) on PET/CT imaging.
Results:
Fifteen patients, 7 newly diagnosed (presurgical screening) and 8 who had been treated (follow-up group) underwent whole body PET/CT imaging. Tumor characteristics included 2 with recurrent, multifocal primary acquired melanosis with atypia and 13 patients with malignant conjunctival melanoma. Only one patient (6.7%) was found to have metastatic disease on PET/CT imaging. The patient had local tumor recurrence with extension into the nasal fossa. Abnormal foci were found in the liver, lung, peritoneal cavity, lumbar spine as well as a supraclavicular node. Liver function tests were normal. No local tumor or regional lymph node involvement was detected in the remaining 14 patients.
Conclusions:
PET/CT imaging did not reveal regional or systemic metastasis prior to surgical treatment of advanced (T3 and T4) conjunctival melanoma. However, it can be used to stage patients with metastastic conjunctival melanoma.
Keywords: conjunctiva • melanoma • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)