The correct staging of potentially metastatic melanoma is essential for an appropriate therapeutic attitude. Current methods include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and scintigraphy. Another tool is whole-body positron tomography using the radiopharmaceutical 2-fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose as an emitter because it accumulates inside neoplasms, especially melanoma. We report two cases of malignant melanoma in which computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested visceral metastatic spread. In contrast, whole-body positron emission tomography indicated the absence of metastases, and this was confirmed by histological examination of the organs where metastases were suspected. Whole-body positron emission tomography appears to have high specificity and sensitivity for clinical melanoma staging. © 1998 Rapid Science Ltd