Scintigraphy of lymphatic vessels in malignant melanoma of the skin before operation (en bloc excision).

An injection of 99mTc-labelled antimony sulphide colloid was used to show the lymphatic pathways in patients with malignant melanoma of the trunk skin. Using a gamma camera, optimal visualisation was obtained 15-30 min postinjection. Surprising deviations of the lymphatic pathways were found; therefore, this method makes it possible to plan continuity dissection appropriate to individual cases. Two examples are presented.