Intralymphatic introduction of radioactive colloids into the lymph nodes. Preliminary study.

Abstract

With the possibility in mind that it might be desirable to convey certain materials for therapeutic purposes directly to lymph nodes, preliminary experiments have been carried out on the dog's hind leg. The behavior of a lymph node toward foreign particles injected directly into the lymph trunk has received very little study. Drinker, Field, and Ward (1934) observed efficient filtration of red blood cells and bacteria by a single popliteal node and by a regional lymphatic system in the dog (1). Walker (1950) injected yttrium hydroxy citrate colloids in a trunk afferent to the popliteal node of the rabbit and then measured filtration or retention by the popliteal and pelvic nodes (2). His experiments were based on single injections with very small (0.05 to 0.20 ml.) volumes of fluid, and the measurements of radioactivity were made on nodes dissected one to nine days after injection. The first node in the filtering system retained a major portion of the injected colloid; secondary or tertiary nodes usually ...