Sentinel lymph node mapping in melanoma of the ear.
Primary nodal drainage basins in melanoma of the head and neck are often unpredictable. The ear is a notorious example of an anatomic site with ambiguous patterns of lymphatic drainage. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy has recently emerged as one modality to assist in identifying clinically relevant nodes. We propose that the addition of intraoperative lymph node mapping techniques that utilize radioactive tracers ("intraoperative lymphoscintigraphy") can increase the accuracy of identifying sentinel nodes and help to determine which patients may benefit from a complete neck dissection. This report demonstrates the ambiguity in identifying drainage patterns in melanoma of the ear and offers a reliable method of sentinel lymph node mapping. This report also addresses current issues regarding treatment protocols of patients with micrometastatic disease in the periauricular region.
Wey
P D
PD
Department of Surgery, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-0019, USA.
De La Cruz
C
C
Goydos
J S
JS
Choi
M L
ML
Borah
G L
GL
D000368:Aged; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid