Clinical significance of [ 18 F]-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus: report of three cases

Abstract

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is a rare disease with poor prognosis. [¹⁸F]-Fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been used extensively for initial tumor staging, therapeutic monitoring, and follow-up evaluation in various malignant tumors, but the significance of FDG-PET in PMME is currently unknown. Herein, we report 3 cases of PMME. In all 3 cases, histological and immunohistochemical examination of the biopsy specimens led to diagnoses of malignant melanoma. FDG-PET/computed tomography was performed in all cases, and was useful for the detection of distant metastases. However, the identification of lymph node metastases at initial diagnosis was difficult. Esophagectomy was performed in one case, while systemic chemotherapy was administered in 2 cases. All 3 patients had a poor prognosis; the mean survival time was 13.3 months. In conclusion, PET/computed tomography is useful for the detection of distant metastasis at initial diagnosis as well as the therapeutic monitoring of PMME.

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