Imaging malignant melanoma with 18 F-5-FPN

Purpose Radiolabelled benzamides are attractive candidates for targeting melanoma because they bind to melanin and exhibit high tumour uptake and retention. 18F-5-Fluoro-N-(2-[diethylamino]ethyl)picolinamide (18F-5-FPN), a benzamide analogue, was prepared and its pharmacokinetics and binding affinity evaluated both in vitro and in vivo to assess its clinical potential in the diagnosis and staging of melanoma.