PET is effective detecting recurrences in stage 3 melanoma

This study investigated the effectiveness of the imaging method PET (detects active cancer lesions) in detecting relapses after surgery in stage 3 melanoma patients. Researchers suggested that PET allows the detection of most recurrences.

Stage 3 melanoma is associated with a high rate of recurrences. Follow-up of patients at high risk of cancer recurrences helps to detect the disease soon after it appears. This improves treatment options and outcomes. Recent studies have shown that PET is more sensitive at detecting metastatic cancer (spread to other parts of the body). However, there is limited information about the effectiveness of PET as a method of follow-up in patients who have undergone surgery.

This study included information on 170 patients who underwent surgery and were followed-up using PET. Patients were followed for an average of 47 months.

Recurrences were seen in 38% of the patients. 69% of these did not show any symptoms. PET predicted 56-83% of the recurrences and 89-96% of the non-recurrences. The overall sensitivity of PET was 70%.

Of recurrent patients, 52% underwent surgery and 16% remained disease-free after 24 months.

This study determined that PET allows the detection of most recurrences in stage 3 melanoma patients.