title: Lymphography of the thoracic duct by percutaneous injection of iohexol into the popliteal lymph node of dogs: experimental study and clinical application.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous administration of iohexol into the popliteal lymph node as a non-invasive technique for thoracic duct lymphangiography in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study and clinical report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal adult dogs (n=4) and 1 dog with recurrent chylothorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the experimental study, 4 dogs (weight, 8.4-12.3 kg) had 5-10 mL iohexol injected percutaneously into 1 popliteal lymph node and then thoracic radiographs were taken. Popliteal lymph nodes were examined by histopathology 8 days later. One 25-kg dog with recurrent chylothorax had 25 mL iohexol injected into the right popliteal lymph node followed by thoracic radiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In experimental dogs, the thoracic duct was best visualized on thoracic radiographs after administration of 10 mL iohexol. Clinically, no abnormalities were identified in the injected limb and except for 1 dog that had large numbers of siderocytes and erythrophagocytic macrophages in the injected lymph node, the histopathologic findings in the other injected popliteal lymph nodes were not different from contralateral nodes. In the clinical case, the thoracic duct was visualized, but there was leakage of iohexol around the node.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thoracic duct in dogs can be visualized by lymphography after percutaneous injection of iohexol (1 mL/kg at 2 mL/min) into the popliteal lymph node.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous popliteal lymph node administration of iohexol should be considered as an alternative to mesenteric lymph node injection for radiographic identification of the thoracic duct in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan. a0e303u@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naganobu
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohigashi
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagio
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections / Q000662:veterinary; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008220:Lymphography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013264:Stifle; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol