[Lymphoedema of the upper limb following surgery or radiotherapy. Investigation by indirect radioactive lymphography (author's transl)].

Indirect radioactive isotope lymphography using intravenous 99 m Tc-labelled colloidal antimony sulfide was performed on 76 patients with lymphoedema of the upper limb consecutive to surgery or radiotherapy. The time required to reach 50% of maximum radioactivity was taken as index of the lymphatic flow rate, and the patients were divided into 3 groups depending upon the index (< 20 min; 20-60 min; > 60 min). It appears that in huge lymphoedemas the lymphatic flow rate index may remain subnormal, owing to associated veno-occlusive oedema. This non-invasive method provides data on the site and, frequently, on the nature and importance of lymph blockade. It might also help to predict the efficacy of a new drug currently under study.