FDG-PET imaging in Merkel cell carcinoma - value of head-to-toe scan

Haim Golan; Olga Volkov; Olga Linchinsky; Moshe Melloul

Vol 8, No 2 (2005)

Submitted: 2012-01-23

Published online: 2005-06-23

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FDG-PET imaging in Merkel cell carcinoma - value of head-to-toe scan

Haim Golan, Olga Volkov, Olga Linchinsky, Moshe Melloul

Nucl. Med. Rev 2005;8(2):135-136.

Vol 8, No 2 (2005)

Submitted: 2012-01-23

Published online: 2005-06-23

Abstract

A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with metastatic MCC. Preliminary staging PET scan with 18F-FDG was not done at the time of diagnosis. After completion of chemo- and radiotherapy, the patient underwent a CT scan of the area from the maxilla to the ischium; no evidence of disease was noted. Clinically, the patient was considered to be in remission. The CT scan was followed by head-to-toe FDG-PET scanning which revealed foci of metastatic disease in the right mid- thigh and left proximal calf. This case demonstrates the added value of head-to-toe FDG-PET for the detection of distant metastases in MCC.