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CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2015; 42(04): 478-483
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2015.42.4.478
Idea and Innovation

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

Fabio Nicoli
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy
,
Pedro Ciudad
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Seong Yoon Lim
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Davide Lazzeri
Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy
,
Christopher D'Ambrosia
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Kidakorn Kiranantawat
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
,
Ram M Chilgar
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Stamatis Sapountzis
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Bulent Sacak
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
,
Hung-Chi Chen
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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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.

Keywords

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


Publication History

Received: 04 January 2015

Accepted: 07 April 2015

Article published online:
05 May 2022

© 2015. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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