Cutaneous malignant melanoma: clinical aspects, imaging modalities and treatment

Cutaneous melanoma is a highly malignant tumour of the melanocytes presenti ng characteristic metabolic and biological features. Early detection decrea ses mortality and morbidity and provides the best chance for optimal clinic al management. Imaging techniques, including scintigraphy, have assumed an important role in detection strategies. As a functional modality, nuclear m edicine offers a variety of possibilities to assist in the clinical managem ent of malignant melanoma. This review discusses the clinical aspects and t reatment of melanoma, and the imaging techniques used for its diagnosis, st aging and follow-up. A survey of currently available techniques is presente d.