The lymphatics of the heart have not generated any broad or sustained interest among clinicians. Few publications on cardiac lymphatics are available, the anatomy is not routinely known and the true role of cardiac lymphatics remains doubtful. One important anatomical concept needing clarification is that of the lymphatic drainage of conduction tissue. The sinoatrial node lymphatic collector an...

Lymphatic malformations--previously called "lymphangiomas"--emerge due to an abnormal development of the lymphatic channels, with obstruction of the lymph flow and formation of lymphatic cysts. These cystic masses are frequently located in the neck and axillary region (95%). A pancreatic localization is extremely rare in children. Pancreatic lymphatic malformations should be distinguished from ...

BACKGROUND Lymph node dissection is often performed as a part of surgical treatment for breast cancer and malignant melanoma to prevent malignant cells from traveling via the lymphatic system. Currently little is known about postoperative lymphatic drainage pattern alterations. This knowledge may be useful for management of recurrent cancer and prevention of breast cancer related lymphedema. We...

The brain has long been thought to lack a lymphatic drainage system. Recent studies, however, show the presence of a brain-wide paravascular system appropriately named the glymphatic system based on its similarity to the lymphatic system in function and its dependence on astroglial water flux. Besides the clearance of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid, the glymphatic system also facili...

Here, we report the existence of meningeal lymphatic vessels in human and nonhuman primates (common marmoset monkeys) and the feasibility of noninvasively imaging and mapping them in vivo with high-resolution, clinical MRI. On T2-FLAIR and T1-weighted black-blood imaging, lymphatic vessels enhance with gadobutrol, a gadolinium-based contrast agent with high propensity to extravasate across a pe...

Experiments have been carried out on guinea pigs of two isogenic strains to elucidate the role of afferent lymphatic vessels in the rejection of orthotopic skin homografts. Graft beds were prepared in partially isolated skin flaps with an intact sustaining vascular "umbilical cord" in which a lymphatic connection with the host could be retained or abolished at will. In the absence of demonstrab...

This study examined the lymphatic drainage after injection of a radiotracer into the upper medial quadrant of the breast in healthy women. Most studies of lymphatic pathways of the breast have been performed in patients with breast cancer and concentrate on the upper lateral quadrant of the breast because of the high incidence of carcinoma at this site. The lymphatic drainage pathways of the me...

OBJECTIVES We evaluated lymphosonography, or contrast-enhanced, ultrasonography (US)-guided sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection, as a technique for demonstrating the lymphatic drainage of the thyroid gland. METHODS In this prospective animal study, four 50-kg Yorkshire swine underwent transcutaneous injection of a US contrast agent and methylene blue dye into the thyroid gland. Contrast-enhan...