title: Direct lymphatic drainage from a melanoma on the back to paravertebral lymph nodes in the thorax.
abstract: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with Tc-99m antimony sulfide colloid was performed in a patient with cutaneous melanoma on the lower back just to the right of the midline. There was direct lymphatic drainage to paravertebral nodes in the chest on the right side at the level of the sixth and seventh thoracic vertebrae. There was also drainage directly to the right groin and via a series of interval nodes to the right axilla. Knowledge of the presence of such drainage may influence the surgical management of patients.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Ultrasound, Missenden Medical Centre, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. ruren@mail.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Uren
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howman-Giles
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony; D006801:Humans; D008196:Lymph / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D000965:Antimony