BACKGROUND: Lymphatic drainage from skin on the head and neck is complex. We sought to provide improved visualization and analysis of the patterns of head and neck skin lymphatic drainage using aggregated lymphoscintigraphy data. METHODS: Lymphoscintigraphy data from 929 patients with cutaneous melanoma on the head and neck collected at the Sydney Melanoma Unit have been mapped onto a 3-dimensional computer model of the skin and lymph nodes. RESULTS: Novel heat maps and interactive software have been created, which show subtle differences in lymphatic drainage patterns when compared with those that are previously reported. Posterior head and neck node fields largely drained posterior regions of the head and neck, whereas anterolateral skin regions were generally drained by the other head and neck node fields. CONCLUSIONS: The heat maps and interactive software tool provide novel visualization of head and neck lymphatic drainage patterns, which has both educational and clinical utility. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
BACKGROUND: Lymphatic drainage from skin on the head and neck is complex. We sought to provide improved visualization and analysis of the patterns of head and neck skin lymphatic drainage using aggregated lymphoscintigraphy data. METHODS: Lymphoscintigraphy data from 929 patients with cutaneous melanoma on the head and neck collected at the Sydney Melanoma Unit have been mapped onto a 3-dimensional computer model of the skin and lymph nodes. RESULTS: Novel heat maps and interactive software have been created, which show subtle differences in lymphatic drainage patterns when compared with those that are previously reported. Posterior head and neck node fields largely drained posterior regions of the head and neck, whereas anterolateral skin regions were generally drained by the other head and neck node fields. CONCLUSIONS: The heat maps and interactive software tool provide novel visualization of head and neck lymphatic drainage patterns, which has both educational and clinical utility. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Authors: Erik A Maus; I-Chih Tan; John C Rasmussen; Milton V Marshall; Caroline E Fife; Latisha A Smith; Renie Guilliod; Eva M Sevick-Muraca Journal: Head Neck Date: 2010-11-12 Impact factor: 3.147
Authors: Hayley M Reynolds; Cameron G Walker; P Rod Dunbar; Michael J O'Sullivan; Roger F Uren; John F Thompson; Nicolas P Smith Journal: J Anat Date: 2010-01-07 Impact factor: 2.610
Authors: Hidde J Veenstra; W Martin C Klop; Maarten J Speijers; Peter J F M Lohuis; Omgo E Nieweg; Harald J Hoekstra; Alfons J M Balm Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2012-05-11 Impact factor: 5.344