Lymphatic imaging in humans with near-infrared fluorescence

JC Rasmussen, IC Tan, MV Marshall, CE Fife… - Current opinion in …, 2009 - Elsevier
JC Rasmussen, IC Tan, MV Marshall, CE Fife, EM Sevick-Muraca
Current opinion in biotechnology, 2009Elsevier
While the lymphatic system is increasingly associated with diseases of prevalence, study of
these diseases is difficult owing to the paucity of imaging techniques with the sensitivity and
temporal resolution to discriminate lymphatic function. Herein, we review the known,
pertinent features of the human lymphatic system in health and disease and set the context
for a number of emerging studies that use near-infrared fluorescence imaging to non-
invasively assess tumor draining lymphatic basins in cancer patients, intraoperatively guide …
While the lymphatic system is increasingly associated with diseases of prevalence, study of these diseases is difficult owing to the paucity of imaging techniques with the sensitivity and temporal resolution to discriminate lymphatic function. Herein, we review the known, pertinent features of the human lymphatic system in health and disease and set the context for a number of emerging studies that use near-infrared fluorescence imaging to non-invasively assess tumor draining lymphatic basins in cancer patients, intraoperatively guide resection of first draining lymph nodes, and to interrogate the difference between normal and aberrant lymphatic structure and function.
Elsevier