The Effect of Lymph Node Removal on PuO2 Translocation

Abstract

The translocation of high-fired PuOa via the lymphatic system from a simulated puncture wound in the left dorsal metacarpus of beagle dogs was studied. Comparisons were made between dogs with and without excision of the left superficial cervical lymph node. Accumulation of plutonium in the lymph node was determined by counting the low-energy X-ray complex with a thin NaI(T1) detector. The dogs were killed less than 2 weeks after implant and the activity determined for selected tissues. Higher levels of plutonium were found in the liver, spleen and hepatic lymph nodes of lymphadenectomized dogs than in the intact dogs. Implications of these data with regard to therapeutic lymph node removal for workers contaminated with plutonium are discussed.

Translocation Kinetics of Plutonium Oxide from the Popliteal Lymph Nodes of Beagles

“…These findings are consistent with the known importance of the superficial cervical lymph nodes in the translocation of plutonium from the front paws of beagles (JOHNSON et al, 1970;BISTLINE et al, 1972;BISTLINE, 1973;GOMEZ et al. 1972;GOMEZ, 1973), and the tracheobronchial lymph nodes in the translocation of plutonium from the lungs of beagles (BAIR, 1970;CLARKE et al, 1964;PARK et al, 1962).…”

Lymph node clearance of plutonium from subcutaneous wounds in beagles

“…oxide injected into the hind paws of beagles. These findings are consistent with the known,importance of the superficial cervical lymph nodes in the translocation.of , plutonium from the front paws of beagles (Johnson, 1969;,Bistline, 51 81 1972; Gomez, et 1972;and Gomez, 1973), and the tracheobronchial lymph nodes in the translocation. of plutonium from the lungs of beagles (Bair, 1970;Clark, etal, 1964;and Park, etaL 1962).…”

“…He showed that the .average percent of implant activity ·in these lymph.nodes started to stabilize at 1,month, andaveraged from 6.7%to 13.3%after 1 to 12 months. Bistline, et al, (1972) studied the translocation dynamics of plutonium Gomez, et al, (1972) showed that by the surgical removal of the superficial cervical lymph nodes· of dogs implanted in the forepaw 9 with.high-fired Pu 2 there wert higher levels of'plutonium in the systernic organs.…”

“…The kinetics of lymph·node clearance were complicated by continuous plutonium translocation to the superficial cervical lymph·nodes from the injection site. The influence of the lymph nodes · on the systemic deposition of plutonium from subcutaneous wounds was also difficult to assess because of the·presence of variable numbers.of superficial cervical lymph nodes draining the forepaw injection site (Gomez, 1972).…”