Archives of Plastic Surgery  2015;42(4):478-483

doi:10.5999/aps.2015.42.4.478

Potential Use of Transferred Lymph Nodes as Metastasis Detectors after Tumor Excision.

Fabio NICOLI 1 ; Pedro CIUDAD ; Seong Yoon LIM ; Davide LAZZERI ; Christopher D'AMBROSIA ; Kidakorn KIRANANTAWAT ; Ram M CHILGAR ; Stamatis SAPOUNTZIS ; Bulent SACAK ; Hung Chi CHEN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Lymph node; Free tissue flaps; Melanoma; Carcinogenesis; Lymphedema

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Due to the fact that it reliably results in positive outcomes, lymph node flap transfer is becoming an increasingly popular surgical procedure for the prevention and treatment of lymphedema. This technique has been shown to stimulate lymphoangiogenesis and restore lymphatic function, as well as decreasing infection rates, minimizing pain, and preventing the recurrence of lymphedema. In this article, we investigate possible additional benefits of lymph node flap transfer, primarily the possibility that sentinel lymph nodes may be used to detect micro-metastasis or in-transit metastasis and may function as an additional lymphatic station after the excision of advanced skin cancer.