title: The lymph drainage of the neoplastic mammary glands in the bitch: a lymphographic study.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to study the lymph drainage of the neoplastic mammary glands in the bitch using indirect lymphography. The main conclusions drawn from the study of 41 natural cases were as follows: the first or cranial thoracic and second or caudal thoracic neoplastic mammary glands usually drain into the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes and rarely into the ipsilateral axillary and sternal lymph nodes, simultaneously. The third or cranial abdominal neoplastic mammary gland usually drains into the ipsilateral axillary and superficial inguinal lymph nodes simultaneously, but sometimes only cranially into the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. Rarely, it drains only caudally into the ipsilateral superficial inguinal and medial iliac lymph nodes, simultaneously. The fourth or caudal abdominal neoplastic mammary gland usually drains only caudally into the ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymph nodes. Rarely, it drains into the ipsilateral axillary and superficial inguinal lymph nodes simultaneously. The fifth or inguinal neoplastic mammary gland usually drains into the ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymph nodes but rarely, does it also drain into the ipsilateral popliteal lymph node and into a lymphatic plexus at the medial aspect of the ipsilateral thigh. Lymphatic connections between the neoplastic and adjacent normal mammary glands were demonstrated in only one case. The lymph drainage pattern of the neoplastic mammary glands is slightly different to that described in normal glands using the same radiographic method.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Patsikas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karayannopoulou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaldrymidoy
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Papazoglou
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Tzegas
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Tziris
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kaitzis
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dessiris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008220:Lymphography / Q000662:veterinary; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000503:physiopathology*