Radiocolloid lymphoscintigraphy in neoplastic disease.

The transport and intralymphatic deposition of interstitially injected radiocolloid of suitable physical properties are mediated through physiological processes and provide the means for obtaining scintigraphic images of drainage lymph nodes relevant to the injection site. In a large series of patients with breast carcinoma, high correlation has been shown between the internal mammary lymphoscintigram and clinicopathological stage of disease and prognosis. Since radiocolloid transport to, transit through, and deposition within the lymph node are effected through cellular elements concerned with immunological mechanisms, it is proposed that the radiocolloid lymphoscintigram be viewed not only as a technique for documenting morphologically established neoplasms in regional lymph nodes but also as a modality for the recognition of functional changes which may influence the development of such neoplasms.