Iotasul, a water-soluble (non-oily) contrast medium for direct and indirect lymphography: radiological and morphological investigations in dogs.

Radiological, light microscopic and electron microscopic findings after direct and indirect lymphography with Iotasul, a new non-ionic water-soluble (not oily) contrast medium, are reported. The results of the studies in 18 dogs clearly show that the roentgenological demonstration of the lymph system following intralymphatic administration of Iotasul in the dog is not inferior to that following the use of conventional oily con contrast medium passes quickly to the lymphatic system and the lymph nodes and is eliminated within 24 hours. The complications and tissue reactions known from oily contrast media are not observed following use of the new water-soluble contrast medium. Furthermore, studies of the fine structures show unequivocally that no morphologically detectable changes attributable to the contrast medium occur either in the region of the injection or in the lymph vessels, lymph nodes and organs such as kidney, liver, lung, spleen and myocardium. Preliminary studies indicate that the new contrast medium offers the possibility of indirect demonstration of lymph vessel regions and groups of lymph nodes (indirect lymphography) which have largely escaped detection by the previous routine lymphographic examination.