Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of preoperative lympho
scintigraphy and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for conjunctival melanoma
.
Methods: A 49-year-old man with a biopsy-proven malignant melanoma of the c
onjunctiva (caruncle) underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and SLN bio
psy using a technique in which both isosulfan blue dye and technetium Tc 99
in sulfur colloid were injected in the subconjunctival space around the pr
imary lesion. The conjunctival melanoma was excised just before identificat
ion and removal of the SLNs. The SLNs were excised along with concomitant d
issection of their associated lymph node basins. The SLNs were evaluated hi
stologically using serial sectioning and immunohistochemical staining with
antisera against the S-100 protein and the melanoma antigen HMB-45.
Results. Three SLNs were identified in the left submandibular and the left
upper and middle jugular lymph node basins during the preoperative lymphosc
intigraphy. The same three SLNs were successfully identified in the operati
ng room. The SLNs were histologically negative, and the immunohistochemical
staining against S-100 and HMB-45 was also negative. We did not observe an
y immediate adverse effects on the globe or the periocular structures from
lymphatic mapping and SLN biopsy. By 24 hours after injection of blue dye,
only a faint trace of blue was visible on the ocular surface.
Conclusions. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and SLN biopsy can be performe
d safely in patients with conjunctival melanoma. A larger study is planned
to determine the sensitivity of this technique for the detection of occult
regional nodal disease in patients with conjunctival melanoma.