The vaccine therapy is an adjuvant therapy combined with chemotherapy
in stage III and IV malignant melanoma. Granuloma
is a side effect of vaccines. Three stage IV patients were treated
with the polyvalent vaccine consist of melanoma cell lysates.
All patients have granulomas on injection sites with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose
(FDG) uptakes on PET. Granuloma is an organized
collection of macrophages. Macrophages contain intense
Glut-1 which is the most important deteminant of F-18 FDG
uptake in cells. Granulomas can mimic skin or lymph node involvement
of malignant melanoma on F-18 FDG PET.
Keywords: Granuloma; glut-1; malignant melanoma; FDG; PET
