Fig. 3

Illustration of lipiodol-based TL in a PLL pig model. Fifteen minutes after Patent Blue V injection at feet, along with the dye, incise the skin at the left lower limb to identify an accessible lymphatic vessel (white arrowhead) as the target for cannulation (A). Then, separate the targeted lymphatic vessel with a plastic blade and a suture (B). Afterwards, access the lymphatic vessel with a 26-gauge trocar needle, which was later fixed and connected to an infusion tube (C). When manually injecting the lipiodol, linear lymphatic vessels in the lower limb were opacified under fluoroscopy (D). The lipiodol extravasation (white arrowhead) could be fluoroscopically observed at the left groin with lymphatic vessel disruptions (E). In the coronal MIP image of the sequential post-lymphangiography CT, lipiodol extravasation (white arrowheads) could also be delineated (F). Images were from Pig No. 1. Abbreviations: TL, translymphatic lymphangiography; PLL, postoperative lymphatic leakage; MIP, maximum intensity projection; CT, computed tomography