Pearls and pitfalls of radionuclide imaging of the lymphatic system. Part 1: sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy in malignant melanoma

• Published in: British journal of radiology Vol. 80; no. 950; pp. 132 - 139
• Main Authors: SCARSBROOK, A. F, GANESHAN, A, BRADLEY, K. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Institute of Radiology 01-02-2007
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Lymph Nodes - diagnostic imaging; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnostic imaging; Male; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Melanoma - diagnostic imaging; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging - methods; Radionuclide Imaging; Skin Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Mammary gland diseases; Breast carcinoma; Minimally invasive surgery; Lymphatic system; Sentinel lymph node; Malignant melanoma; Breast cancer; Malignant tumor
• ISSN: 0007-1285; 1748-880X
• DOI: 10.1259/bjr/20286459

Radionuclide imaging of the lymphatic system has a major role in the management of two main patient groups. First, pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy is a highly accurate method of sentinel node localization and can help guide minimally invasive surgery in a variety of tumour groups. Second, lymphoscintigraphy can play a pivotal role in assessing the cause of extremity swelling. This is the first of two pictorial essays on radionuclide imaging of the lymphatic system and will focus on sentinel node imaging in malignant melanoma. Regional nodal sampling is routinely performed in an increasing number of tumour groups and is well established in malignant melanoma and breast carcinoma. Careful attention to technical performance and image interpretation is essential to maximize the clinical utility of the test. This article provides a pictorial review of the interpretative pearls and pitfalls of sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy in malignant melanoma patients.