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FIGURE 1. Lymphoscintigraphy for detection of SNs in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Schematic view of how the different number of radiotracer injections might affect the outcome of the procedure. (A) Single injection, X (large volume), might only enter central lymphatic vessels (with respect to the scar following primary melanoma resection), thus missing those potentially involved by malignant cells; moreover, the large volume of the radiotracer might be responsible for identification of non-SNs. (B) Multiple injections, X, might instead enter peripheral lymphatic vessels and thus identify sentinel nodes involved by metastatic melanoma cells; in addition, the low volume characterizing multiple injections might avoid identification of second tier(s). Arrows represent lymphatic flow.
