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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Imaging of the Lymphatic Vasculature of a Mouse
Published on: March 8, 2013
Human Lymphatic Architecture and Dynamic Transport Imaged Using Near-infrared Fluorescence
John C Rasmussen1, I-Chih Tan, Milton V Marshall
1Center for Molecular Imaging, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Background:
Although the importance of lymphatic function is well recognized, the lack of real-time imaging modalities limits our understanding of its role in many diseases. In a phase 0 exploratory study, we used dynamic, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging to assess the extremes of lymphatic architecture and transport in healthy human subjects and in subjects clinically diagnosed with unilateral lymphedema (LE), a disease that can be prevalent in cancer survivors.
Methods And Results:
Active lymphatic propulsion was imaged after intradermal injections of 25 µg of indocyanine green (total maximum dose ≤400 µg) bilaterally in the arms or legs of control and subjects. Images show well-defined lymphatic structures with propulsive dye transport in limbs of healthy subjects. In LE subjects, we observed extravascular dye accumulation, networks of fluorescent lymphatic capillaries, and/or tortuous lymphatic vessels in all symptomatic and some asymptomatic limbs. Statistical models indicate that disease status and/or limb significantly affect parameters of apparent lymph propagation velocity and contractile frequency.
Conclusions:
These clinical research studies demonstrate the potential of NIR fluorescence imaging as a diagnostic measure of functional lymphatics and as a new tool in translational research studies to decipher the role of the lymphatic system in cancer and other diseases.
