Roentgenographic Visualization of Lymph Nodes and Vessels in the Human and in Laboratory Animals by Injection of Thorium Dioxide. ∗

We have previously reported the roentgen visualization of lymph nodes and vessels in laboratory animals by subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections of thorium dioxide (thorotrast). 1 We were able to visualize clearly many different lymph nodes and vessels in these living animals by means of the roentgen ray. Many of them are living in apparent good health over one year after injection.

After being convinced that laboratory animals were in no way harmed by the subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection of thorium dioxide, we began our experiments on the human in an effort to visualize man's lymph nodes and vessels.

Case No. 1, a colored female, age 41, with an extensive carcinoma of the cervix and body of the uterus, was injected subcutaneously over the abdomen and into the tissues of the cervix. A radiographic examination made immediately after the injection showed the thorium dioxide in the subcutaneous tissues of the abdomen and also in the cervix. No ill effect from the injection was experienced by the patient and none observed by us.

The patient, again examined 2 days later, had not experienced any symptoms which might be attributed to the injection of thorium dioxide. A radiograph made at this time clearly showed 2 lymph nodes situated in the pelvis, both circular in shape, one large and the other small. The small node had absorbed the thorium in an irregular manner; one-quarter of this gland had failed to absorb any thorium, possibly as a result of metastatic cells blocking that portion, and showed as a dark area in contrast to the remaining portion of the gland which had absorbed thorium and was light.

Case No. 2, a colored female, aged 50, with an extensive carcinoma of the uterus, with metastasis, was injected intraperitoneally with thorium dioxide and radiographed immediately, to ascertain if the thorium dioxide had entered the peritoneal cavity.