[Scintigraphic examinations of the lymph before endolymphatic radionuclide therapy of the malignant melanoma of the inferior extremity (author's transl)].

Between 1974 and March 1977, lymph scintigrams were taken on 68 patients with operated malignant melanomas of the inferior extremity before submitting these patients to an endolymphatic radionuclide therapy. The authors wanted to prove that the lymph canals were undamaged in order to avoid unnecessary cutaneous irradiation damages in case of a subsequent additional therapy. 58 lymph scintigrams showed normal findings with a symmetrical transport of 99mtechnetium-sulfur colloid into the inguinal and iliacal lymph nodes of both sides. The ELRT could be accomplished successfully on all patients of this group. Ten lymph scintigrams showed pathological findings with evidence of activity in the wound region. The ELRT was cancelled in eight cases, and two essays had to be stopped without any success. Our experiences show that lymph scintigraphy with 99mtechnetium-sulfur colloid is a simple and reliable method to examine the lymph canals of the inferior extremities. In case of patholological findings, one can avoid to order unnecessarily the expensive radioactive substance for the endolymphatic radionuclide therapy. An alternative punction point to that on the instep which is ordinarily used can possibly be found by a repeated examination.