Computer Modeling Provides a New Tool for Clinically Diagnosing Melanoma Spread through the Lymphatics

Abstract

In this study an anatomically accurate framework is presented to visualize clinical melanoma data in 3D. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) data from the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU) has been used, where each patient's primary cutaneous melanoma site and corresponding sentinel lymph node locations have been recorded. Anatomically accurate finite element geometries of the skin and lymph nodes have been created using the visible human dataset. SMU's full SLNB database has been mapped from 2D onto this 3D anatomical framework via free-form deformation and projection techniques. Spatial statistical analysis and heat map displays have been calculated and visualized relating melanoma sites on the skin to sentinel lymph node fields. These detailed spatial maps provide the first anatomically accurate link between skin sites and lymphatic drainage. The extension and ongoing application of this work in the clinic is a novel method to capture data for both improved melanoma diagnosis and a better understanding of lymphatic drainage in the body.