PMC2246138_01
Preoperative PET maximum intensity projection (A) and preoperative cross sectional fused PET/CT images (B) of a patient with recurrent metastatic melanoma to the left thigh. The preoperative PET/CT scan revealed three hypermetabolic foci within the left thigh.
1477-7819-6-1-1.jpg
PMC2246138_01_1477-7819-6-1-1.jpg
F1
Intraoperative ultrasound showing an 8 mm hypoechoic lesion identified within the subcutaneous tissues of an area of generally increase 18F-FDG activity within the anterior lower one-third of the left thigh region.
1477-7819-6-1-2.jpg
PMC2246138_01_1477-7819-6-1-2.jpg
F2
Digital photograph of the three surgical specimens resected from the left thigh (A). Three dimensional CT reconstruction alone of the three surgical specimens from the left thigh (B). Three dimensional CT reconstruction of the three surgical specimens from the left thigh fused with PET activity (C). Cross sectional specimen fused PET/CT images of the melanoma metastases in the left thigh revealing three hypermetabolic foci (D).
1477-7819-6-1-3.jpg
PMC2246138_01_1477-7819-6-1-3.jpg
F3
All three resected specimens were then transported to the nuclear medicine department and imaged with the clinical PET/CT scanner (Figure 3) at a time of approximately 210 minutes after the original 18F-FDG injection.
Preoperative PET maximum intensity projection in the anterior projection view (A) and postoperative PET maximum intensity projection in the anterior projection view (B). The postoperative PET/CT scan revealed verification of resection of hypermetabolic foci previously noted on the preoperative scan.
1477-7819-6-1-4.jpg
PMC2246138_01_1477-7819-6-1-4.jpg
F4
The postoperative PET/CT scan demonstrated no residual sites of hypermetabolic activity, verifying excision of the all three previously visible sites of hypermetabolic activity within the left thigh region (Figure 4).