M A Eberbach | PubMed Health

PubMed1989

Lymphatic anatomy: functional nodal basins.

The understanding of human dermal lymphatic anatomy has rested for nearly 120 years on the original work of Sappey. Subsequently, others have added significantly to our knowledge with anatomic studies. Copious lymphoscintigraphical data have accumulated in recent years in the evaluation of cutaneous melanomas. These data suggest that the old anatomic picture of lymphatic anatomy is functionally inaccurate. Analysis of these cumulative data reveals an extensive network of feeding lymphatic connections to major nodal basins far more expansive than previously recognized. These nodal basins overlap to a significant extent, rendering drainage prediction based on location nearly impossible. Therapeutic implications are remarkable.

Drainage↗

PubMed1987

Utility of lymphoscintigraphy in directing surgical therapy for melanomas of the head, neck, and upper thorax.

Lymphoscintigraphy with technetium99m antimony sulfur colloid or technetium99m human serum albumin helped direct the surgical management of 24 patients who had melanomas of the head, neck, and upper thorax. Eighteen (75%) patients had documented lymphatic flow to other than a single adjacent predictable lymph nodal group. Nineteen patients underwent lymphadenectomy. Availability of the scan altered surgical management in nine patients (47%) who required resection of nodes in addition to resection of adjacent nodes. The discovery of metastatic disease in one patient was clearly attributable to lymphoscintigraphy. This demonstrates the unpredictable lymphatic anatomy of this region and suggests that preoperative lymphoscintigraphy may be useful in directing the surgical management of cutaneous melanomas in which lymph node dissection is planned.

Adult↗