Diagnosis: (Medicare Approved), No role.

Staging: (Medicare Approved in patients with high risk melanoma) In initial staging of patients with high risk primary lesions, whole body PET is the most effective staging tool. Does not replace sentinel node biopsy which is capable of providing information on microscopic metastases to nodes.

Restaging/Surveillance: (Medicare Approved), In patients with clinically suspected metastatic disease, PET is the most effective study and can substitute for CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis at a significant cost savings. Does not substitute for MRI of brain. Medicare approved.