[Kinetic values of lymphoscintigraphy of sentinel ganglion in cutaneous cervicofacial melanomas].
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.
Duflo
Suzy
S
Fédération d'Oto-Rhinolaryngologie, Hôpital la Timone, Marseille, France. sduflo@yahoo.com
Mahieu-Renard
Laurence
L
Gras
Régis
R
Grob
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Zanaret
Michel
M
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