Colonoscopy is a reasonable next step for further diagnostic examination of patients who display nodular high FDG uptake in the colon. Diffuse FDG uptake often is associated with normal findings at colonoscopy, while segmental high uptake may imply inflammation.
We report six cases of malignant melanoma metastatic to the small bowel in which the information obtained from fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) contributed significantly to the management of the patients. In each of these cases the conventional diagnostic work-up missed findings that were important for treatment planning. We conclude that FDG-PET is a valuable modality in melanoma patients with suspected gastrointestinal involvement. It is also a sensitive technique for the diagnosis of other intra-abdominal as well as extra-abdominal metastases.
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