title: Tumor-induced alterations in lymph node lymph drainage identified by contrast-enhanced MRI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To use high resolution MRI lymphography to characterize altered tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) lymph drainage in response to growth of aggressive tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six mice bearing B16-F10 melanomas in one rear footpad were imaged by 3.0 Tesla (T) MRI before and after subcutaneous injection of Gadofosveset trisodium (Gd-FVT) contrast agent into both rear feet. Gd-FVT uptake into the left and right draining popliteal LNs was quantified and compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Fluorescent dextran lymphography compared patterns of LN lymph drainage with the pattern of immunostained lymphatic sinuses by fluorescence microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TDLNs exhibited greater Gd-FVT uptake than contralateral uninvolved LNs, although this difference did not reach significance (P < 0.06). Foci of contrast agent consistently surrounded the medulla and cortex of TDLNs, while Gd-FVT preferentially accumulated in the cortex of contralateral LNs at 5 and 15 min after injection. Fluorescent dextran lymphography confirmed these distinct contrast agent uptake patterns, which correlated with lymphatic sinus growth in TDLNs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3.0T MRI lymphography using Gd-FVT identified several distinctive alterations in the uptake of contrast agent into TDLNs, which could be useful to identify the correct TDLN, and to characterize TDLN lymphatic sinus growth that may predict metastatic potential.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.|Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Alanna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruddell
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Sara B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kirschbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ganti
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Cheng-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA, USA.|Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Savannah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Partridge
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005682:Gadolinium; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium
keywords: albumin; gadolinium; lymph node; lymphography; melanoma; mouse