title: [Visualization of deep lung lymphatic network using radioliposomes].
abstract: Deep lymphatic drainage plays an important role in the lung, as it removes foreign materials laying on the airways surface, such as pathogenic microorganisms. This drainage is also associated with lung tumour dissemination route. Liposomes with a specially tailored membrane were used as foreign particles to be removed by the lung lymphatics. We aim to obtain images of deep lung lymphatics in baboons using liposomes encapsulating (99m)Tc-HMPAO, as aerosols. Axillary lymph nodes were visualized 30 min post-inhalation, becoming more evident 1 hour after, when abdominal aortic and inguinal lymph nodes were also observed. Late images added no additional information. ROI's and their time-activity curves were drawn to obtain biokinetic information. In conclusion, we can say that the proposed technique enables visualization of the deep lymphatic lung network and lymph nodes. This methodology may be an important tool for targeted lung delivery of cytotoxic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Biofísica/Biomatemática, IBILI, Faculdade de Medicina, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Coimbra, Portugal. filomena@ibili.uc.pt
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.forename: J J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: De Lima
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Dormehl
authors.forename: M Fontes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Baganha
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kilian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008081:Liposomes; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D048549:Papio ursinus; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime