BRAF Inhibitor-Induced Panniculitis: Appearance on 18F-FDG PET/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2016 Mar;41(3):e149-51. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001027.

Abstract

BRAF inhibitors vemurafenib and dabrafenib have become the standard of care for treatment of stage IV metastatic melanoma harboring a BRAF mutation. Panniculitis is a rare but known adverse side effect of these agents and presents with tender erythematous nodules. These nodules may demonstrate uptake on F-FDG PET/CT, which may mimic metastatic disease in patients undergoing treatment. We present a case of BRAF inhibitor-induced panniculitis in a patient with stage IV metastatic melanoma and discuss the imaging findings on F-FDG PET/CT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects
  • Indoles / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Oximes / adverse effects
  • Panniculitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Panniculitis / etiology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sulfonamides / adverse effects
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Vemurafenib

Substances

  • Imidazoles
  • Indoles
  • Oximes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sulfonamides
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Vemurafenib
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • dabrafenib