On the Persistence of an Oily Contrast Medium (Lipiodol Ultrafluid (R)) in Normal and Abnormal Lymph Nodes

Abstract

Patients having undergone lymphography who were followed up for a period of several years by x-ray controls showed marked differences in the decreasing rate of contrast medium (c.m.) according to time. There are few and contradictory reports in the literature on factors influencing the decrease of stored c.m.: Ruttiman found visible cm. in lymph nodes (l.n.) up to 4–10 months. In normal nodes Viamonte observed the disappearance of the oily medium within 1–3 months. Abnormal nodes on the other hand retained the contrast material sometimes for years. In nodes with active inflammation Viamonte noticed disappearance within 48 hours. According to Fabion the c.m. persisted in the nodes for 5 to 34 months; 70% of the patients had c.m. sufficient for diagnosis at the end of 1 year, while in 12% it was still visible at the end of 2 years. Abnormal l.n. are thought to have a greater tendency to store than normal ones (Blaudow; Viamonte). There is however little information on the following factors: age, sex or mode of therapy.