Changes in 18F-FDG PET-CT appearances of treated malignant melanoma metastases within the right atrium

18F-FDG PET-CT plays an important role in the management of malignant melanoma. Cardiac metastases of melanoma are relatively uncommon, but when present they often manifest with cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac failure. Once treated successfully lesions in the heart reduce in size and FDG-uptake, while signs of cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac failure may resolve. With a background of normal physiological FDG-uptake in cardiac muscle a careful observation is required when cardiac metastases are suspected clinically.
We report a patient with right atrial metastases of melanoma presented with new onset of atrial fibrillation, and following appropriate treatment the cardiac lesion reduced in size and FDG-uptake, and signs of cardiac arrhythmia resolved spontaneously.

The authors believe this is the first set of PET-CT appearances of pre-treated and treated cardiac metastases of melanoma in literature.