Endoscopic indirect Lymphography in Gastric Cancer

Summary

An oil-in-water emulsion containing 55 % Lipiodol, 5 % Tween 80 and 40 % Angiografin was injected into stomach walls at 20 points to visualize the regional lymph nodes. At each point 0.5 ml emulsion was injected into the submucosal layer. Conventional X-ray pictures of the upper left abdomen were taken at the 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours and on the day before surgery. The method was employed in 18 stomach cancer patients and 5 healthy controls. X-ray findings were verified during the operation and by histological sections stained with hematoxylin eosin, Sudan III and Sudan black. It was established that almost all lymph nodes were visualized, and the lymphograms showed no changes in the healthy stomach. In stomach carcinoma cases metastatic signs were node enlargement, vacuolization with central and/or peripheral filling defects or absence of contrast in nodes. The possibility of applying the method for regional preoperative chemotherapy in early carcinoma stages is discussed.

Key words:

Endoscopy - direct - lmphography - Gastric Cancer - Regional chemotherapy