In this patient a
metastasis occurred in the groin after an earlier operation for a melanoma in
the right leg. There are no signs of further metastases and for this reason it
is decided to remove all the fatty tissue in the groin with all the lymfnodes in
it, including the metastasis.
Fortunately there
were no other metastases in this tissue as was shown by microscopic research of
the removed tissue.
A part of the skin
is detached together with the underlying tissue, containing the lymfglands (1).
Then this is removed and the removed tissue is sent for microscopic research
(2,3).
The remaining wound
in the right groin after dissection with a detail that shows clearly the muscles
and a blood vessel (4,5).
The defect can generally be primarily closed. Wound fluid collections can occur during several weeks, sometimes draining through a small hole. In the long run this will heal. Elastic stockings after an intervention like this are generally necessary since the drainage of lymfe fluid from the leg is of course disturbed by the removal of the lymf glands. In this example a superficial lymfadenectomy was performed. It can also be necessary to remove glands at a deeper level in the groin and then the chance of lymfedema is even bigger.
