JLE

European Journal of Dermatology

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Comparison of 99mTc‐MIBI scintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy in the detection of occult lymph node metastases from cutaneous melanoma Volume 13, numéro 5, September 2003

Auteurs
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Clinical Hospital, University of Uruguay, Av. Italia s\n, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay. Department of Clinical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, Famaillá 3304, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay

99mTc‐MIBI scintigraphy has been proposed as a technique that can diagnose clinically undetectable melanoma metastases. The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity of 99mTc‐MIBI with that of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in the detection of nodal disease. Twenty‐eight patients with melanoma > 1.0 mm thick were enrolled. Patients underwent 99mTc‐MIBI scintigraphy and a preoperative lymphoscintigraphy followed by SNB. Sentinel nodes were identified in 27\28 patients. Twelve patients had an involved sentinel node (SN), being 99mTc‐MIBI positive in 10. No patient with negative SNB developed regional recurrence during the study. 99mTc‐MIBI had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 93%. We conclude that SNB remains the procedure of choice for detecting subclinical lymph node involvement from melanoma. 99mTc‐MIBI could have an alternative role in lymph node staging of patients who are not good candidates of SNB, that needs to be tested in appropriate trials.