Experimental study of indirect lymphography with iodinated starch

: Opacification of lymph nodes on CT was attempted by means of indirect lymphography with iodinated starch (IS). Sixty percent solutions of two different molecular weights of IS were prepared (5,000 mol wt and 70,000 mol wt in average). After subcutaneous injection of IS solutions to the pedal area of dogs, CT scans were performed to evaluate opacification of the popliteal lymph nodes. The lymph nodes began to be opacified from 10 min after the injection of each solution. The high molecular weight IS showed higher attenuation and longer duration of opacification than did the low molecular weight IS. Homogeneity of opacification was better with latter. The optimum molecular weight for this purpose is considered to be between 5,000 and 70,000 mol wt.