IN-VIVO DIAGNOSIS OF HUMAN-MALIGNANT MELANOMA WITH POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY USING SPECIFIC MELANOMA-SEEKING F-18 DOPA ANALOG

Detection and diagnosis of human malignant melanoma by Positron Emissi on Tomography (PET) using F-18-B-10-L-BPA, a specific melanogenesis-se eking compound synthesized for use in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy fo r malignant melanoma (NCT), has been developed. This resulted in a nov el, highly effective methodology for the selective three dimensional i maging of metastatic malignant melanomas, and for accurate determinati on of B-10 concentration in the tumor and surrounding tissue, providin g almost all diagnostic information necessary for complete non-invasiv e radiation dose planning in the treatment of malignant melanoma both for NCT as well as other therapeutic modalities.