The pulmonary capillary bed after lymphography

A small series of patients underwent radio-isotope lung scanning before and after the bipedal injection of oily contrast medium for abdominal lymphography to assess known malignant disease. After lymphography the lung scans showed an increase of between 12 and 100% in the radioactivity recorded over the anterior chest. No change was recorded over the posterior aspect of the chest. It is suggested that the increase is a result of blockage of posteriorly placed pulmonary capillaries and diversion of blood flow to the anterior segments.