Clinical Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT for Staging and Restaging of Pediatric Malignant Melanoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background/Objectives: Malignant melanoma is a rare entity in the pediatric population, accounting for approximately 1–3% of all childhood malignancies. Despite its rarity, it is the most common skin cancer in children. Accurate staging and monitoring are essential for treatment planning and prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in staging and restaging of pediatric malignant melanoma.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed pediatric patients aged 18 years or younger who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging between 2010 and 2025 with histopathologically confirmed malignant melanoma. Demographic data, primary lesion localization, PET/CT findings, pathology reports, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Lesions were categorized as positive and negative in the final analysis. Diagnostic performance parameters (with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) were calculated using histopathological confirmation or clinical follow-up as the reference standard, and categorical associations were assessed using Fisher’s exact test.