The Lymph Drainage of the Mammary Glands in the Bitch: a Lymphographic Study. Part I: The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Mammary Glands

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to study the lymph drainage of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th mammary glands in the bitch using indirect lymphography. The main conclusions drawn after the study of 67 normal lactating mongrel bitches were as follows: lymph drains from the first gland, usually to the axillary nodes, and, in few cases, to the axillary and superficial cervical nodes simultaneously. The second gland drains to the axillary nodes. The fourth gland usually drains to the superficial inguinal nodes, but it may, rarely, drain to the superficial inguinal and medial iliac nodes simultaneously. The fifth gland drains to the superficial inguinal nodes. Lymphatic connection between the mammary glands could not be demonstrated. Furthermore, it was confirmed that lymph can pass from one gland to another, through their common regional lymph nodes, by retrograde flow. It was demonstrated that there is a connection between the superficial inguinal lymph nodes from either side. It is suggested that lymphatic connection between the axillary and sternal nodes and between the axillary and bronchial nodes should be possible in some cases. Lymphatics of the mammary glands that cross the midline were not demonstrated.

Radiographic lymphangiographyin the dog using iodized oil

“…Previous studies have successfully used intramammary injections to demonstrate the lymph nodes draining the mammary glands. The technique described in these studies was initially attempted by the authors of the current study in two intact females and two neutered males; however, no uptake of contrast by the nodes was seen . In the previous studies, 1–5 mL of Lipiodol Ultra‐Fluid was injected into the subareolar region and mammary parenchyma of the second and fourth mammary gland, and radiographs were acquired at 30 min, 60 min, 120 min and 24 h after injection.…”

“…Direct lymphangiography, which involves injection of contrast material into a lymph node or lymphatic vessel, has been used in previous studies for the purpose of thoracic duct assessment, assessment of nonpalpable nodes for the presence of malignant or inflammatory disease and for evaluation of blockage of lymphatics . Indirect lymphangiography, or injection of contrast into tissues, has successfully demonstrated the lymphatic drainage patterns of the canine mammary glands . As well, both direct and indirect lymphangiography have been used for imaging lymphatic beds in human patients .…”

Development, Anatomy, Histology, Lymphatic Drainage, Clinical Features, and Cell Differentiation Markers of Canine Mammary Gland Neoplasms

“…Patsikas et al [59][60][61] investigated the lymph drainage of the normal and neoplastic mammary glands in the bitch; these results are presented in Table 1. In normal healthy dogs, lymphatics drain into the ipsilateral lymph nodes; there is no drainage to the contralateral gland or lymph node, but drainage may be altered in cases of mammary neoplasia.…”

Metástase De Carcinoma Mamário Em Sistema Nervoso Central De Cadela

“…Em cadelas com glândulas mamárias normais há comunicação entre vasos linfáticos das glândulas ipsilaterais. Porém no caso da mama ser acometida por neoplasias mamárias a drenagem linfática pode ser modificada e ocorrer comunicação contralateral de vasos linfáticos (PATSIKAS et al, 1996). Provavelmente foi o que ocorreu nas mamas inguinais da cadela em questão, que apresentou recidiva na mama inguinal direita após caso de carcinoma tubular na mama inguinal esquerda.…”