Imaging the brain and uninvolved extremities during routine whole-body PET/CT of melanoma wastes scanner time and exposes patients to unnecessary radiation, according to a study presented at the 2006 Academy of Molecular Imaging meeting.
Imaging the brain and uninvolved extremities during routine whole-body PET/CT of melanoma wastes scanner time and exposes patients to unnecessary radiation, according to a study presented at the 2006 Academy of Molecular Imaging meeting.
At the University of California, Los Angeles, melanoma patients used to undergo routine whole-body scanning. A dedicated PET study could take up to 75 minutes; newer PET/CT exams could be acquired in 30 minutes. A retrospective review of 300 cases found that only a negligible number of patients developed metastases in initially uninvolved extremities and/or the brain. Melanoma patients should be scanned the same way as other oncology patients, a protocol that would improve scanner efficiency without compromising diagnostic power or patient safety, said lead investigator Dr. Esther Choi.
Stay at the forefront of radiology with the Diagnostic Imaging newsletter, delivering the latest news, clinical insights, and imaging advancements for today’s radiologists.
FDA Expands Approval of MRI-Guided Ultrasound Treatment for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
July 9th 2025For patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, the expanded FDA approval of the Exablate Neuro platform allows for the use of MRI-guided focused ultrasound in performing staged bilateral pallidothalamic tractotomy.