[Lymphoscintigraphic studies of regional lymph vessels in patients with head and neck tumors]. / Lymphszintigraphische Untersuchungen der regionalen Lymphwege bei Patienten mit Kopf-Hals- Tumoren.

Lymphatic drainage was followed with Tc lymphoscintigraphy. Micrometastases in head and neck cancer cases cannot be detected. The drainage pattern is highly variable and does not allow prognostic conclusions in tumors as demonstrated for the parasternal pathways. The method helps to determine the side and extent of a neck dissection prior to surgery as well as follow-up postoperatively. The development of lymphedema can be detected early in order to start treatment by manual lymph drainage.