Eyelid lymphatics II: a search for drainage patterns in the monkey and correlations with human lymphatics.
OBJECTIVE
To study the lymphatic drainage of the cynomolgus monkey through the use of lymphoscintigraphy.


METHODS
Lymphoscintigraphy with 500 microCi of 99mTechnetium sulfur colloid injected at specific sites around the eyelids was performed with five cynomolgus monkeys in lateral and ventral positions.


RESULTS
Lymphoscintigraphy of the monkey eyelid and periocular tissue revealed lymphatic drainage to the parotid lymph nodes from the entire upper eyelid, medial canthus, and lateral lower eyelid and drainage to the submandibular lymph nodes from the medial and central lower eyelid. In addition to draining to the parotid lymph nodes, the central upper eyelid was also seen to drain to the submandibular lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphoscintigraphy of the cynomolgus monkey eyelids reveals discrete lymphatic drainage pathways for the upper and lower eyelids and a dual pathway for the central upper eyelid. Future studies will help to clarify the lymphatic drainage pathways of human eyelids.
Cook
Briggs E
BE
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA. briggscook@yahoo.com
Lucarelli
Mark J
MJ
Lemke
Bradley N
BN
Dortzbach
Richard K
RK
Kaufman
Paul L
PL
Forrest
Lisa
L
Greene
Eric
E
Gabelt
B'Ann T
BT
D000818:Animals; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid