Identification of 6 sentinel lymph nodes in a case of malignant melanoma on the ungual region of the finger.
We describe a case of malignant melanoma on the ungual region of the index finger with which 6 sentinel lymph nodes were detected in the axillary basin. Of these nodes, 1 of 3 brachial nodes and 2 of 3 central axillary nodes showed micrometastasis. Additional lymph nodes obtained at the subsequent complete axillary lymph node dissection showed no metastasis. Identification of as many as 6 sentinel lymph nodes was ascribed to a single lymph trunk that would branch off to afferent lymphatics draining to each nodal group; however, a gamma probe may have detected radioactive tracer passing to the sequential nodes as well as that remaining in true sentinel nodes.
Ueno
Takashi
T
Department of Cutaneous and Mucosal Pathophysiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. takashi-ueno@nms.ac.jp
Mitsuishi
Tsuyoshi
T
Niimi
Yayoi
Y
Kawana
Seiji
S
D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000473:pathology