The Importance of SPECT/CT in Preoperative Localization of Sentinel Lymph Nodes in 2 Patients With Acral Melanoma in the Foot

Abstract

A 68-year-old woman with melanoma in the left heel underwent sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy and radioguided biopsy. The sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT detected 3 foci of increased activity in the popliteal fossa and inguinal region. When coregistered to CT, the sentinel node was localized in the inguinal region, and the popliteal foci were considered tracer retention in lymphatic vessel. In another patient with melanoma in the foot, sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy detected 3 foci of increased activity in the popliteal fossa and inguinal region, which were all identified to be nodal uptake in SPECT/CT. The sentinel node was finally localized in popliteal fossa in this patient.