PubMed ID: 11897950
Author(s): Cook BE Jr, Lucarelli MJ, Lemke BN, Dortzbach RK, Kaufman PL, Forrest L, Greene E, Gabelt BT. Eyelid lymphatics II: a search for drainage patterns in the monkey and correlations with human lymphatics. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Mar;18(2):99-106. PMID 11897950
Journal: Ophthalmic Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery, Volume 18, Issue 2, Mar 2002
PURPOSE To study the lymphatic drainage of the cynomolgus monkey through the use of lymphoscintigraphy.
METHODS Lymphoscintigraphy with 500 microCi of 99mTechnetium sulfur colloid injected at specific sites around the eyelids was performed with five cynomolgus monkeys in lateral and ventral positions.
RESULTS Lymphoscintigraphy of the monkey eyelid and periocular tissue revealed lymphatic drainage to the parotid lymph nodes from the entire upper eyelid, medial canthus, and lateral lower eyelid and drainage to the submandibular lymph nodes from the medial and central lower eyelid. In addition to draining to the parotid lymph nodes, the central upper eyelid was also seen to drain to the submandibular lymph nodes.
CONCLUSIONS Lymphoscintigraphy of the cynomolgus monkey eyelids reveals discrete lymphatic drainage pathways for the upper and lower eyelids and a dual pathway for the central upper eyelid. Future studies will help to clarify the lymphatic drainage pathways of human eyelids.