123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine scintigraphy in patients with malignant melanoma

N-Isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) has been widely used in patients with cerebral vascular damage and epilepsy. The potential of 123I-IMP accumulation in the melanin producing cells has been reported since early stage of its development. Some authors reported the accumulation of 123I-IMP in the malignant melanoma of human and animals. We evaluated the 123I-IMP scintigraphy in 9 patients with malignant melanoma. Patients were classified into two groups: A, 4 patients with 8 lesions; B, 5 post-operative patients without lesions. In group A, the 123I-IMP uptake was seen in 4 of 8 lesions. The smallest true positive lesion was located at skin and its size was 15 mm in diameter. Two of the visualized 4 lesions were amelanotic malignant melanomas. This fact suggests that uptake of 123I-IMP in malignant melanoma may be related to the processes of melanin synthesis. In group B, two abnormal deposits had been seen in the right thigh of a female patient. However no abnormality was seen in the following 67Ga scintigraphy, TCT, MRI, and repeated 123I-IMP scintigraphy. Therefore the abnormal deposits were considered to be the false positive lesions due to urinary contamination.