The lymphatic drainage of the human ovary in vivo investigated by isotopic lymphography before and after the menopause.

The authors report 14 lymphoscintigraphies of the ovary, 8 before and 6 after the menopause. Injection of colloid labeled with technetium 99 m with elective lymphatic absorption was made into the mesovarium under laparoscopic control. Frontal and lateral images of the lymphatic drainage were made with a gamma camera 4-6 h after injection. Even in this short preliminary series, the premenopausal women showed major local and regional lymphatic circulation with drainage to the lumbo-aortic and pelvic nodes. After the menopause the lymphatic flow decreased and drainage was essentially by the aorto-lumbar nodes.