COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND RADIOGRAPHIC INDIRECT LYMPHOGRAPHY FOR VISUALIZATION OF MAMMARY LYMPHATIC VESSELS AND THE SENTINEL LYMPH NODE IN NORMAL CATS

The potential of computed tomography indirect lymphography (CT‐indirect lymphography) and radiographic indirect lymphography to demonstrate the draining lymphatic vessels and sentinel lymph node of normal mammary glands was tested in 31 healthy female cats. The lymphatic drainage of each mammary gland was studied initially by CT‐indirect lymphography after intramammary injection of 0.5 ml of iopamidol, followed by images acquired at 1, 5, 15, and 30 min after injection. One day after CT‐indirect lymphography, the lymph drainage of the mammary gland was assessed using radiographic indirect lymphography after intramammary injection of 0.5 ml of ethiodized oil followed by radiographs made at 1, 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after injection. The time between intramammary injection and opacification of the draining mammary lymphatic vessels and the sentinel lymph node, the duration of adequate opacification of the draining mammary lymphatic vessels and of the sentinel lymph node and also the number and course of draining mammary lymphatic vessels and location of sentinel lymph node were compared for CT‐indirect lymphography vs. radiographic indirect lymphography in each examined gland. This results suggest that radiographic indirect lymphography is easy to perform and can be used for accurate demonstration of the draining lymphatic pathways of mammary glands in radiographs made at 5–30 min after injection. However, CT‐indirect lymphography was able to better demonstrate small lymphatic vessels and accurately define the exact topography of the sentinel lymph node in images acquired at 1 min after injection.     

细胞角蛋白免疫组化染色对胃癌淋巴结转移的诊断意义

目的 探讨细胞角蛋白(CK)免疫组化染色在判断胃癌淋巴结转移中的作用.方法 采用常规HE染色、CK免疫组化染色检测51例胃癌根治术患者的淋巴结转移情况.结果 51例胃癌中,HE、CK免疫组化染色发现淋巴结转移检出率分别为58.8%、80.3%;在送检的848个淋巴结中,HE、CK免疫组化染色显示淋巴结转移率分别为12....     

保留肋间臂神经在乳腺癌腋淋巴结清扫术中的临床意义

目的:分析保留肋间臂神经在乳腺癌腋淋巴结清扫术中的可行性及临床应用价值。方法:1998年1月～2004年6月在138例～期乳腺癌的腋淋巴结清扫术中施行保留肋间臂神经,其中完整保留肋间臂神经98例,切除40例。术后对患者进行随访观察。结果:保留肋间臂神经98例中,术后患侧上臂内侧及腋部皮肤感觉正常90例(91.8%),感觉异常8例(8.1%),而切除肋间臂神经40例中均有感觉异常。比较两者的感觉异常率差异有显著性(χ2=105.61,P<0.001)。随访1～5a,138例均未见复发。结论:在乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫术中,保留肋间臂神经是可行的,它既保存了患侧上臂内侧及腋部皮肤的感觉功能,又改善了患者术后生活质量,具有一定临床价值。     

ASSESSMENT OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODE METASTASIS IN CANINE MAMMARY GLAND TUMORS USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC INDIRECT LYMPHOGRAPHY

In the staging process of the breast cancer, demonstrating metastasis of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has an important prognostic value, in both humans and animals. The aim of this prospective case‐control study was to determine the diagnostic value of computed tomographic indirect lymphography (CT‐LG) for detecting SLN metastasis in dogs with mammary cancer. Thirty‐three female dogs with tumors in the abdominal and inguinal mammary glands were prospectively selected and subjected to CT‐LG, 1 and 5 min after injection of 1 ml of contrast agent (iopamidol) in the subareolar tissue of the neoplastic and the contralateral normal mammary glands. The pattern of postcontrast opacification, degree of postcontrast enhancement, and size and shape were assessed in 65 SLNs in total and were correlated with histopathological findings. The absence of opacification or heterogeneous opacification 1 min after contrast medium injection showed the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (93%, 100%, and 98.4%, respectively). In images taken 1 min after injection, an absolute density value lower than 444 Hounsfield units (HU) in the center of the SLN also provided significant sensitivity and specificity (93.8% and 75%, respectively). The size and shape of the SLN (maximum and minimum diameter, maximum/minimum diameter ratio, maximum diameter/height of fifth thoracic vertebral body ratio) showed the lowest sensitivity and specificity. Results of this study support the hypothesis that CT‐LG could help in the assessment of SLN metastasis in cases of mammary gland tumors in dogs.     

Use of indirect lymphography to identify sentinel lymph node in dogs: a pilot study in 30 tumours

This study reports the clinical value of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with indirect lymphography (IL) using iodized oil (IO) as a marker injected preoperatively around the site of the primary tumour and radiography or tomodensitometry for imaging. Surgical extirpation of the node was performed following peritumoural injection of methylene blue (MB). Twenty nine dogs affected by 30 palpable solid tumours were prospectively studied. SLNs were identified by IL in 96.6% of the IL studies. IL followed by MB studies were performed in 25 dogs (26 studies). In these studies, agreement between IL and MB was observed in 84.6%. One dog had a minor complication following IO injection. This protocol represents an attractive alternative to scintigraphy for SLN mapping. This less technically demanding protocol may provide a wider access to SLN identification for application in veterinary oncology.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF NORMAL AND ABNORMAL CANINE SUPERFICIAL LYMPH NODES USING GRAY-SCALE B-MODE, COLOR FLOW MAPPING, POWER, AND SPECTRAL DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY: A MULTIVARIATE STUDY

The objective of this study was to characterize the ultrasonographic patterns of normal superficial lymph nodes and to evaluate whether ultrasonography can help discriminate between different lymphadenopathies (reactive, lymphoma, and metastases) in dogs. Three hundred and eighteen superficial lymph nodes in 142 dogs were studied by B-mode, color flow mapping, power, and spectral Doppler ultrasonography. Size, echogenicity, nodal border definition, presence of a nodal hilus, acoustic enhancement and distribution of vascular flow, as well as perfusion indices were measured. Multivariate statistics using discriminant analysis was used to determine which parameters can be used to predict the diagnosis of the lymph node. The size of the lymph node, distribution of vascular flow within the lymph node, and pulsatility index (PI) in combination gave a classification error of 23% for the four groups of lymph nodes. This was improved to 11% if the nodes were divided into two groups: benign and malignant. There was a significant difference in resistive index (RI) and PI between benign and malignant nodes. Cut-off values were determined using receiver operator curves, 0.68 RI and 1.49 PI.     

THE EFFECT OF POSITIONING ON THE APPEARANCE OF SELECTED CRANIAL THORACIC STRUCTURES IN THE DOG

In this retrospective study the effect of thoracic positioning on the visibility and size of selected cranial thoracic structures in dogs was investigated. Dorsoventral (DV), ventrodorsal (VD) as well as left lateral recumbent (LLR) and right lateral recumbent (RLR) thoracic radiographs of 17 large, 15 medium, and 10 small skeletally mature dogs were evaluated. The craniodorsal and cranioventral mediastinum, the cupula pleura and sternal lymph nodes were examined. The effect of obesity was also evaluated. The craniodorsal mediastinum was better delineated on DV radiographs and was wider on VD radiographs. The craniodorsal mediastinal width: width of T2 cranial end-plate on VD radiographs was 2.41 for all groups combined and obesity significantly influenced this value. The cranioventral mediastinum was more visible in RLR and VD radiographs. A normal sternal lymph node soft tissue opacity was seen most commonly in RLR in large breed dogs and had a mean length of 30 mm. The pulmonary cupula extended beyond the first rib on all views and extended more cranially and was better visualised on VD than DV views.     

Balantidiasis in the gastric lymph nodes of Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia): an incidental finding

A 4-year-old female Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) was found dead in the Gwangju Uchi Park Zoo. The animal had previously exhibited weakness and lethargy, but no signs of diarrhea. The carcass was emaciated upon presentation. The main gross lesion was characterized by severe serous atrophy of the fat tissues of the coronary and left ventricular grooves, resulting in the transformation of the fat to a gelatinous material. The rumen was fully distended with food, while the abomasum evidenced mucosal corrugation with slight congestion. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of Balantidium coli trophozoites within the lymphatic ducts of the gastric lymph node and the abdominal submucosa. On rare occasions, these organisms may invade extra-intestinal organs, in this case the gastric lymph nodes and abomasum.     

Effect of intestinal lymphatic pathway on apoptosis of lung tissue in rats by two-hit

AIM: To observe the effects of mesenteric lymph duct ligation on apoptosis of lung tissue,correlated gene expression with apoptosis and TNF-α,IL-6 contents in rats by two-hit.METHODS: 45 Wistar rats were divided into three groups: the ligation group,the non-ligation group and sham group,and the two-hit model was established by means of hemorrhage and LPS treatments.Ligating mesenteric lymph duct was conducted in ligation group.After 24 hours,the pathological sections of lung tissue were prepared for determining the apoptosis rate by TUNEL method and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were observed by immunohistochemical test.The lung homogenate was also prepared for determining the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 by ELISA.RESULTS: After two-hit,the apoptosis rate,Bax expression in lung tissue and contents of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and lung homogenate in non-ligation group were increased and Bcl-2 expression was lower than that in sham group and ligation group significantly (P<0.01,P<0.05).Apoptosis rate in ligation group was no statistics difference with sham group (P>0.05),and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was increased and Bax was lower than that of sham group (P<0.01,P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Blockage of intestinal lymphatic pathway reduces the apoptosis of lung in two-hit rats,and its mechanism might relate to reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and improved the expression of Bcl-2 protein in lung by the ligation of mesenteric lymph duct.The mesenteric lymph of two-hit might play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI).