Three-dimensional visualization of skin lymphatic drainage patterns of the head and neck

Abstract

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.