Lymphoscintigraphy for Intraopertive Sentinel Node Biopsy of Skin and Soft Tissue Malignancy

ABSTRACT

Sentinel lymphnode biopsy is widely performed in the management of malignant melanoma and breast cancer. The sentinel lymphnode is the prime site of draining from the malignant lesion and of metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate a usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy in conjunction with a removal of sentinel lymphnodes of skin and soft tissue malignancy. We studied 11 patients selected between January, 2003 and November, 2004. Clinically sentinel lymphnodes free of metastasis were examined with lymphoscintigraphy, gamma detection probe and vital dye staining, and we reviewed histopathologic findings and inert status of the nodes and the results fo treatment. Nine cases were malignant melanoma, one was squamous cell carcinoma on the left hand and another one leiomyosarcoma. Sentinel lymphnodes were identified in all cases. Three cases of malignant melanoma had positive sentinel lymphnodes on histological examination. All patients with positive sentinel lymphnodes were treated with therapeutic regional lymphadectomy, chemotherapy and adjuvant regimen. Four patients underwent PET scanning and followed sentinel lymphnode biopsy. Two had no metastasis signs on PET scanning. Therapeutic lymphnode dissection was carried out upon the patients whose sentinel lymphnode was positive on PET scanning. We contend that lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymphnode biopsy are reliable to confirm regional lymphnode metastasis of the skin and soft tissue malignancy, and blind extensive lymphnode dissection can be spared.