EVALUATION OF LYMPH NODE FUNCTION FOLLOWING IRRADIATION OR SURGERY

Abstract

Following subcutaneous colloidal gold injection behind the posterior foot pad of the hind limb of the dog, practically all of the Au¹⁹⁸ that left the site of injection localized in the popliteal lymph node. If the popliteal lymph node was excised, initially the radioactive gold localized in the site, but by I month lymphatic continuity was re-established and the Au¹⁹⁸ localized in the abdominal lymph nodes. Following 2,000 r to the popliteal lymph node with orthovoltage roentgen rays at a usual therapeutic rate, colloidal gold continued to localize in the popliteal lymph node site as in the controls. With 6,000 r, 3 of 4 animals, beginning 2 months following irradiation, showed some Au¹⁹⁸ reaching the abdominal lymph nodes. With 10,000 r, the distribution of Au¹⁹⁸ was the same as that in the controls, probably because of the marked fibrosis that occurred. Irradiation did not entirely eliminate the localization of colloidal gold in the popliteal lymph node site in any case, and it is postulated that with particles as large as cancer cells no alteration would be noted.