The Use of Lymphography as a Diagnostic Method

Abstract

Under normal circumstances, the roentgen visualization of the deep organs and soft-tissue structure in the body is dependent on the contrast between calcium, fat, soft tissue, and air. If an organ or soft-tissue structure cannot be adequately outlined by virtue of these naturally occurring substances, an opaque medium must be introduced. Any method that permits visualization of vessels which could hitherto not be demonstrated because of their inaccessibility is bound to increase the diagnostic potentialities. Demonstration of the lymphatic system by the injection of radiopaque material is such a procedure. The lymphatic system was visualized roentgenographically as early as 1930 by the Japanese investigator, Funaoka (5), who injected mercury, lead, and iodine salts into the lymph vessels. Carvalho et al. (2) reported on the radiographic demonstration of lymphatics in 1931 and again in 1934 with Thorotrast as the contrast medium. Other opaque compounds were injected into the lymph nodes or into the region ...