title: Two phase scintigraphic mapping of lymphatic drainage in cutaneous melanoma using 99mTc-sulfur microcolloid/99mTc antimelanoma antibody.
abstract: The purpose of lymphoscintigraphy in patients with melanoma before surgery is to image the lymphatic drainage net and particularly to detect the sentinel node; the purpose of immunolymphoscintigraphy after surgery is to map the lymphatic drainage and to detect a possible spead of the malignancy towards the lymph nodes surrounding the surgical field or more distal regions. The aim of the present study was to assess the sensitivity of a two-phase procedure with Tc-99m-Iabelled agents for exploring possible spread of melanoma after thorough resection of the primary lesion. Seven melanomectomized patients were enrolled into the study. The melanomas were situated on the head, back, arm and buttock of these patients. Intracutaneous lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99m sulphur microcolloid [Lymphoscint, Solco, Basel, Switzerland] and i.v. immunoscrintigraphy with Tc-99m-antimelanoma antibody [Tecnemab-K-I, Sorin Biomedica Spa, Saluggia, Italy] at a dosage of 55 MBq and 740 MBq respectively, were performed in 13 patients to define possible infiltration of lymph nodes after surgery with a time interval of 1 week between the two examinations. Tc-99s sulphur microcolloid preceded the Tc-99m anti-melanoma antibody scan. The scintigrams were evaluated by three experienced nuclear physicians. The method detected 3 out of 16 suspicious nodes as malignant. Combined two-phase technique improves the diagnostic and staging accuracy of cutaneous melanoma affected population and appears extremely useful in the surgical confrontation of the lymphatic spead.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Areteion University Hospital, Athens Medical Faculty, Greece.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Limouris
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Voliotopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondi-Paphiti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stavraka
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vlahos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008208:Lymphatic System; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016719:Radioimmunodetection / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013667:Technetium; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
chemical_list: D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D013667:Technetium