By Paul T. Finger, MD
In a research study, Dr. Finger compared the intensity of radioactive glucose uptake [from positron emmission tomography (PET)] to clinical, ultrasound, and pathology features of choroidal melanomas evaluated by FDG positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT). Ultrasound was used to measure tumor size, evaluate tumor shape and intrinsic vascularity (blood flow). Histopathology and immunohistochemical evaluations of tumor cell-type, necrosis, glycogen-content, vascularity and extrascleral extension were performed.
Selecting out the highest 6 PET/CT standardized uptake values [(SUV) > or = to 4.0] melanomas, patients were (on average) 10 years older. in general, higher SUV tumors had larger basal dimensions, were epithelioid-cell type, were centered anterior to the equator, contained enlarged blood vessels (>150 microns in diameter), and had formed extrascleral extension.
This study suggests that PET/CT imaging offered a physiologic assessment of glucose metabolism within choroidal melanomas. Increased FDG PET/CT SUV ( > or = to 4.0) was positively correlated to known clinical, pathology, and ultrasound features linked to metastatic potential of choroidal melanoma.
Related Links
- View this innovation as it appears in the British Journal of Ophthalmology
- An article that demonstrates how tumor size is correlated to PET/CT SUV
- An article that demonstrates the use of PET/CT for initial screening of patients with choroidal melanoma.
- An article that demonstrates the sites of choroidal melanoma metastasis defined by PET/CT
- Search PubMed for 18FDG PET/CT SUV: A Noninvasive Biomarker For the Risk of Metastasis from Choroidal Melanoma
- Search Google for 18FDG PET/CT SUV: A Noninvasive Biomarker For the Risk of Metastasis from Choroidal Melanoma
