Melanoma: Lymphoscintography

If there is risk that the melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes, a test is done at the same time as a wide local excision in hospital, to see if the nearby lymph nodes are affected. A radiologist will perform what is called a lymphoscintography, which involves having a tiny amount of a mildly radioactive liquid injected around the area where the melanoma was. The lymph nodes close to the melanoma are then scanned to see which ones have absorbed the radioactive liquid first. The dye stains the lymph nodes blue.