Experimental studies on lymphatic drainage of the peritoneal cavity using 198Au-colloid.

The lymphatic drainage from the peritoneal cavity was studied scintigraphically and by determination of the specific accumulation of 198 Au-colloid and of the 198 Au -contents within the regional lymphatics, liver and spleen following intraperitoneal injection of 25 µ Ci in 29 rabbits. The investigation Revealed the selective 198 Au-accumulation in the mediastinal lymph nodes and within the lymphatics of the greater momentum, whose absorptive capacity was shown to be significant. The theoretical background for visualization of the mediastinal lymph nodes scintigraphically and for the transposition of the greater momentum in the treatment of lymphedema was explained by these results. Moreover, it was previously suggested, that intraperitoneal radiotherapy affects the regional lymphatic system of the peritoneal cavity as well. The lack of radioactivity in the mesenteric lymph nodes and in the thymus indicated, that these organs do not participate in the lymphatic drainage mechanism of the peritoneal cavity.