¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and Melanoma: Staging, Immune Modulation and Mutation-Targeted Therapy Assessment, and Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Monoclonal antibodies that target the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint protein and its associated ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and targeted inhibitors of mutated signal transduction molecules such as BRAF inhibitors show immense promise in treating patients with melanoma. We discuss the use of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for assessing therapy effectiveness, staging advanced disease, and determining prognosis of patients with melanoma. CONCLUSION: FDG PET/CT is useful in staging disease, assessing therapy, and determining prognosis in patients with melanoma.