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Combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans are widely used in the staging and monitoring of most malignancies. The differential for PET-positive cutaneous lesions includes primary skin cancers, infections, cutaneous metastases from distant malignancies, and benign neoplasms. In dermatology, PET/CT scans have been most widely studied in patients with melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. The role of PET/CT scans in the management of other cutaneous malignancies is less clear, but it has shown great promise in the management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma. This review seeks to address the usefulness of PET/CT scans in nonmelanoma skin cancer and to provide guidance regarding the management of patients with incidental PET-positive nodules. Currently, there is limited experience with PET/CT scans for staging and monitoring of non-head and neck metastatic basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and results show limited sensitivity and specificity. We also address the evidence for management of an incidental PET-positive cutaneous nodule and recommend obtaining a biopsy specimen in patients with a known noncutaneous malignancy, a history of primary skin cancer, or a high risk of either cutaneous or noncutaneous malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of F-18 FDG PET/CT in the detection and prediction of local recurrence of maxillary sinus cancer. Methods: Retrospectively, we analyzed F-18 FDG PET/CT images of maxillary sinus cancer patients for the surveillance after treatment. Twenty-two consecutive patients with maxillary sinus cancer, who underwent maxillectomy followed by adjuvant radiation treatment, were included in the study. F-18 FDG PET/CT images were analyzed visually and quantitatively. Results: The median age of the patients included in the current study population was 54.5 years (range, 35–78). Seven patients (29.1%) had local recurrent diseases. Recurrent diseases show statistically significant higher values in SUVmax (recurrent: 5.09 ± 3.3, non-recurrent; 3.05 ± 0.7, p < 0.05), L/NL (recurrent: 2.95 ± 0.9, non-recurrent; 1.86 ± 0.5, p < 0.05), L/Ao (recurrent: 3.37 ± 2.1: non-recurrent; 1.88 ± 0.4, p < 0.05), and L/Cbr (recurrent: 1.06 ± 0.7: non-recurrent; 0.46 ± 0.1, p < 0.05) than those of non-recurrent disease of maxillary sinus cancer. There were no statistical differences between visual assessment and quantitative indices for the detection of local recurrence. The visual assessment was the potent predictor by logistic regression analysis for prediction of local recurrence. Conclusion: The visual assessment of F-18 FDG uptake pattern was potential predictor for local recurrence of maxillary sinus cancer. However, the diagnostic performances were similar between visual assessment and quantitative indices. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and improve statistical accuracy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]