Abstract
We performed sentinel node biopsies in nine clinical stage I melanoma patients using 99mTc-labeled colloid. 99mTc Sn or rhenium colloid was injected at the periphery of the primary lesion, and radioactive nodes were identified in the regional lymph node basin by a hand-held gamma probe. Using 99mTc Sn colloid, radioactive nodes were detected in all four patients with melanoma lesions on the extremities (average : 2.6 nodes/patient) ; however, we failed to detect any radioactive nodes in two of three patients with the lesions on the trunk and face. In one of these patients, the radioactive nodes were detected after additional injection of 99mTc rhenium colloid. More than 10 nodes were detected in a patient with a lesion on the leg by 99mTc rhenium colloid. The above findings indicate that 99mTc Sn colloid is useful for sentinel node biopsy with patients melanoma of the extremities, but it is necessary to develop a more suitable colloid other than Sn colloid for melanoma of the trunk and head.
