The role of cutaneous lymphoscintigraphy in determining regional lymph node drainage of truncal melanomas

In the absence of clinically positive regional nodes, any value of prophylactic dissection in malignant melanomas depends on accurate preoperative determination of the pathway of lymphatic drainage. We report on the use of noninvasive radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy in the determination of regional patterns of lymph node drainage in patients with melanomas. Ten patients were studied; treatment was altered by test results in 2. Eleven node groups were excised in 7 patients. There have been no metastatic melanomas found in any nodal basins not detected by lymphoscintigraphy 23 to 42 months after operation.