RECURRENCE OF MALIGNANT-MELANOMA AFTER IRRADIATION DIAGNOSED BY GLUCOSE-FRUCTOSE ENHANCED MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Two patients who had been given ruthenium plaque treatment for uveal m elanoma were MR examined due to suspected recurrence. Spin-echo sequen ces were applied using a 1.5 T equipment. The examinations were perfor med in both patients two times with a 2-h interval. Immediately after the first examination the patients were perorally given 20 g glucose a nd 10 g fructose. An increase of signal intensity (prolongation of the relaxation times) and size of the uveal lesions could be visualized b y a subtraction technique in both patients after the carbohydrate load ing. In agreement with our previous studies of malignant melanoma the changed metabolism in the uveal lesions indicated recurrence of the tu mour. One eye was available for histological examination. The morpholo gical difference between areas of recurring and degenerating tumour wa s clearly seen. Similar changes were not observed by ultrasound.