Role of 18F-FDG positron emission tomography staging and restaging of skin cancer

F-18 fiuorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is highly sensitive and specific for the staging and restaging of various cancers. However, the very limited data is available in the literature on FDG-PET in patients with skin cancer. Purpose: To assess the diagnostic utility of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in patients with primary or secondary skin cancer. Methods: Thirty-three patients with primary or secondary skin cancer who underwent FDG-PET scan during the period 1999-2003 were included in this retrospective analysis. Of these, 13 had primary squamous cell carcinoma, 13 had cutaneous lymphoma and 7 had secondaries from other primary cancers. FDG-PET scans were obtained 60 minutes after the intravenous injection of FDG. The accuracy of FDG-PET scans was evaluated using clinical and pathological follow-up data. Results: A total of 49 FDG-PET scans were obtained in 33 patients. Of these 49 scans, 31 were positive for the presence and 18 were negative for the absence of the disease. Twenty-one patients which had positive FDG-PET, 29 were true positive and 2 was false positive. Eighteen patients which had negative scan 15 were true negative and 3 were false negative. The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, were 91%, 88% and 90% respectively. Conclusion: These results clearly demonstrate the potential value of FDG-PET for the staging and restaging in patients with skin cancer. (authors)