Lymphoscintigraphy in malignant melanoma

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Annals of Plastic Surgery; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000637-199201000-00010· OSTI ID:7014118

Berman, C G; Norman, J; Cruse, C W; Reintgen, D S; Clark, R A ^[1]

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1. Department of Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL (United States)

The development and rationale for the use of lymphoscintigraphy in the preoperative evaluation of patients with malignant melanoma being considered for elective lymph node dissection is reviewed. This overview is updated by an analysis of 135 patients with early stage malignant melanoma involving the head, neck, shoulders, and trunk at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida (Tampa, FL). High discordancy rates (overall, 41%) were seen between drainage patterns predicted from historical anatomical guidelines and those revealed by the lymphoscintigraphic examination. The high discordancy rate was most pronounced in the head (64%) and the neck (73%). Surgical management was changed in 33% of the patients, overall. A preoperative lymphoscintigram is recommended for all patients with melanoma with head, neck, and truncal lesions evaluated for elective lymph node dissection as the lymphatic drainage patterns are often unpredictable and variable.

• OSTI ID: 7014118
• Journal Information: Annals of Plastic Surgery; (United States), Vol. 28:1; ISSN 0148-7043
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING
MELANOMAS
DIAGNOSIS
DECISION MAKING
FLORIDA
HEAD
METASTASES
NECK
PATIENTS
SURGERY
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARCINOMAS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
EPITHELIOMAS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NORTH AMERICA
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
USA
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics