Experimental studies of the endolymphatic radiotherapy.

By injecting 131I-Lipiodol into lymphatics of the dorsum of dog feet, the distribution of 13JI in the lymph nodes and other principal organs as well as its histological effect were studied periodically after the injection for the period of two months. The characteristic feature of J3JI distribution was the fact that J31I was accumulated into lymph nodes markedly higher than in any other organs and it was retained there over a long period of time. Histological examinations of the lymph nodes revealed a marked lymphocytopenia, the loss of germinal center, practically complete loss of lymphoid elements already 5 days after injection, and marked fibrosis. In the lung a considerable J3JI·distribution could be seen in early stage:, but with lapse of time it decreased rapidly. The distribution in other organs such as liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidney, ureter, bladder, thyroid gland, pancreas, testicles and small and large intestines was negligible in amount, and any specific histologic effect of irradiation could not be recognized in these organs including the lung. From these results, the authors concluded that 131I-Lipiodol has a selective activity on lymph nodes by injecting it via lymphatics and it is a safe method in clinical application to treat the patients bearing malignant lymphoma or metastatic lymph nodes. ∗PMID: 4366051 [PubMed indexed for MEDLINE] Copyright c ©OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL Acta Med. Okayama 28, 59-67 (1974) EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE ENDOLYMPHATIC RADIOTHERAPY Shozo IRINa, Ta.meyo T ANJI, Junichiro UNO and Akira OKA Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan (Director: Prrf. K. Hiraki) Received for publication, July 9, 1973 Abstract: By injecting 131I-Lipiodol into lymphatics of the dorsum of dog feet, the distribution of 13JI in the lymph nodes and other principal organs as well as its histological effect were studied periodically after the injection for the period of two months. The characteristic feature of J3JI distribution was the fact that J31I was accumulated into lymph nodes markedly higher than in any other organs and it was retained there over a long period of time. Histological examinations of the lymph nodes revealed a marked lymphocytopenia, the loss of germinal center, practically complete loss of lymphoid elements already 5 days after injection, and marked fibrosis. In the lung a considerable J3JI·distribution could be seen in early stage:, but with lapse of time it decreased rapidly. The distribution in other organs such as liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidney, ureter, bladder, thyroid gland, pancreas, testicles and small and large intestines was negligible in amount, and any specific histologic effect of irradiation could not be recognized in these organs including the lung. From these results, the authors concluded that 131I-Lipiodol has a selective activity on lymph nodes by injecting it via lymphatics and it is a safe method in clinical application to treat the patients bearing malignant lymphoma or metastatic lymph nodes. By injecting 131I-Lipiodol into lymphatics of the dorsum of dog feet, the distribution of 13JI in the lymph nodes and other principal organs as well as its histological effect were studied periodically after the injection for the period of two months. The characteristic feature of J3JI distribution was the fact that J31I was accumulated into lymph nodes markedly higher than in any other organs and it was retained there over a long period of time. Histological examinations of the lymph nodes revealed a marked lymphocytopenia, the loss of germinal center, practically complete loss of lymphoid elements already 5 days after injection, and marked fibrosis. In the lung a considerable J3JI·distribution could be seen in early stage:, but with lapse of time it decreased rapidly. The distribution in other organs such as liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidney, ureter, bladder, thyroid gland, pancreas, testicles and small and large intestines was negligible in amount, and any specific histologic effect of irradiation could not be recognized in these organs including the lung. From these results, the authors concluded that 131I-Lipiodol has a selective activity on lymph nodes by injecting it via lymphatics and it is a safe method in clinical application to treat the patients bearing malignant lymphoma or metastatic lymph nodes. Since the lymphography was technically established by KINMONTH in 1952 with the advent of a good oily contrast medium, it has been markedly advanced in the past few years. This method has come to the use widely in various fields of medicine and its diagnostic significance has been generally recognized (1, 2). Furthermore, the lymphography with radioisotopes, i. e. endolymphatic radiotherapy, is also being applied to the treatment for metastatic lymph nodes and malignant lymphoma, and its usefulnesc;; has become gradually recognized (3). However, scarcely seen are basic studies on the reliability of endolymphatic radiotherapy for man, the findings on the distribution of isotope in organs and its effects. Considering the importance of this method for the treatment of malignant lymphoma, we have conducted some experiments using dogs first, before its clinical application. The purpose of this study is to confirm the significance and reliability Of clinical application of endolymphatic radiotherapy by studying the qUaIl-