Lymphographic Alterations of Pelvic Lymphatics After Radiotherapy

Abstract
LYMPHOGRAPHY is the radiographic visualization of lymph vessels and nodes after intralympathic injection of a radiopaque substance. One application of lymphography is in the preoperative detection of lymphatic involvement by metastatic tumor. During the past 2½ years lymphography has been employed in the study of 109 patients with gynecologic cancer on the Obstetrics-Gynecology Service at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Twenty-seven patients were studied after undergoing radiotherapy for pelvic cancer. It soon became evident that irradiation of pelvic lymphatics could produce lymphographic findings that might be confused with metastasis to the lymphatic system. Examples of lymphographic alterations secondary to radiotherapy are presented in this report. Technique Lymphography is best performed when the patient is lying supine on a fluoroscopy table with the feet fixed in an extended position by adhesive tape. Lymphatic vessels are localized for cannulation on the dorsal aspects of the feet by injecting 1