title: [Kinetic values of lymphoscintigraphy of sentinel ganglion in cutaneous cervicofacial melanomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the lymphoscintigraphy appearance time (LAT) of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in head and neck cutaneous melanoma and to determine whether a correlation exists between LAT and SLN status (negativity or positivity).
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort of 33 patients with Breslow index >or= 1.5 mm, Clark index >or= 4 mm, and ulceration > 1 mm underwent a lymphoscintigraphy and SLN biopsy for a cutaneous head and neck melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  LAT was noted and correlated to SLN status, Breslow and Clark indices, ulceration, and recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty SLNs were identified; 58 were removed, and 17 were positive. In 31% (n = 18), the LAT was < 10 minutes; in 59% (n = 34), the LAT was > 10 minutes and < 30 minutes; and in 10% (n = 6), the LAT was > 30 minutes. SLN was significantly positive (p = .02) when the LAT was less than 10 minutes and the negative predictive value was 100% for LAT > 30 minutes. A recurrence was significantly observed (p = .02) for LAT < 10 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LAT > 30 minutes is associated with negative SLN in head and neck melanoma; however, a prospective study on a more important cohort is needed for a better evaluation of this new variable.
authors.affiliation: Fédération d'Oto-Rhinolaryngologie, Hôpital la Timone, Marseille, France. sduflo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Suzy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duflo
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mahieu-Renard
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gras
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanaret
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult