Melanoma - 59 year old

HISTORY:
59 year old with a history of melanoma who has had multiple recurrences and several different therapies for follow up after therapy.

IMAGING FINDINGS:
There is intense, abnormal FDG uptake identified corresponding to a large mass in the gallbladder. However, there is a new, right upper lobe pulmonary nodule with abnormal FDG uptake and suspicious for metastasis, as well as a focal area of increased FDG uptake in the right supraclavicular region corresponding to a small lymph node. There is mild, diffuse, increased FDG uptake in the left axilla, which is asymmetric.

DISCUSSION:
This patient presented with probable recurrent metastatic melanoma to the lung. He was referred for re-staging PET/CT which showed uptake in the lung nodule, a small supraclavicular node not previously identified and a gallbladder metastasis which was previously thought to be sludge rather than a metastasis on ultrasound. Melanoma is one of the more common tumors to metastasize to the gallbladder and because it tends to be one of the more FDG avid tumors, can be detected even when it is relatively small (~6-8mm).

Data courtesy of Dr. Todd Blodgett, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Any of the protocols presented herein are for informational purposes and are not meant to substitute for clinician judgment in how best to use any medical devices. It is the clinician that makes all diagnostic determinations based upon education, learning and experience.