Interest of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the evaluation of vaginal malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND

This is the first report of FDG-PET findings in a case of vaginal melanoma.

CASE: The tumor arose from the anterior wall of the vaginal canal. As the tumor was limited to the vaginal wall and as there was no evidence of distant metastases, the disease was staged as IIC (AJCC 2002). PET-CT images showed two mediastinal foci localized to the left highest mediastinal and subcarinal nodes on fusion PET/CT images. As it was metastatic, the disease was staged IV (AJCC 2002).

CONCLUSION

In comparison to conventional imaging, FDG-PET provides a more accurate assessment of the extent of disease spread in patients with vaginal melanoma as with cutaneous melanoma. Significant alterations in the surgical management and treatment were made based on PET results.