Spontaneous regression of a metastatic melanoma pulmonary deposit following biopsy

Fatemeh Behnia, MD; Megan Zare, MD; Saeed Elojeimy, MD, PhD

Radiology Case Reports (Jun 2018)

Spontaneous regression of a metastatic melanoma pulmonary deposit following biopsy

Fatemeh Behnia, MD,
Megan Zare, MD,
Saeed Elojeimy, MD, PhD

Affiliations

Fatemeh Behnia, MD: Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Corresponding author.
Megan Zare, MD: Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Saeed Elojeimy, MD, PhD: Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 3
pp. 580 – 582

Abstract

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Spontaneous complete and partial regression of metastatic melanoma is poorly understood, and is a rare phenomenon with less than 80 cases reported since 1866. Several correlations have been noted such as systemic or local infections, operative trauma, hormonal influences, nutrition and immunologic factors. We present FDG PET and CT findings in a patient with multiple pulmonary metastases of melanoma, one of which underwent regression following biopsy. We suggest immune system modulation, triggered by biopsy, could have played a role, although the precise mechanism remains unknown. Keywords: Metastatic, Melanoma, Spontaneous, Regression, PET-CT

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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