Lymphatic drainage from the rectum as demonstrated by double isotope method.

Widespread anorectal lymphovascular networks and tissue drainage: analyses from submucosal India ink injection and indocyanine green fluorescence imaging

“…However, this method can only investigate the location and distribution of lymph nodes and cannot investigate the functional lymphatic flow. Some studies examined the rectal lymphatic flow, including the lateral region, using isotope methods [17][18][19], but isotopes were only detected in lymph nodes, not lymphatic ducts, rendering the conclusions of these studies speculative. Besides, the anorectal lymphatic drainage from the levator ani muscle (LAM) and its surrounding fascia has not been investigated yet.…”