title: Potential Use of Transferred Lymph Nodes as Metastasis Detectors after Tumor Excision.
abstract: Due to the fact that it reliably results in positive outcomes, lymph node flap transfer is becoming an increasingly popular surgical procedure for the prevention and treatment of lymphedema. This technique has been shown to stimulate lymphoangiogenesis and restore lymphatic function, as well as decreasing infection rates, minimizing pain, and preventing the recurrence of lymphedema. In this article, we investigate possible additional benefits of lymph node flap transfer, primarily the possibility that sentinel lymph nodes may be used to detect micro-metastasis or in-transit metastasis and may function as an additional lymphatic station after the excision of advanced skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. ; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy. ; Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciudad
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Seong Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosia
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. ; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kidakorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiranantawat
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ram M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Chilgar
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Stamatis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapountzis
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sacak
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Carcinogenesis; Free tissue flaps; Lymph node; Lymphedema; Melanoma