Dr. Fisch has written a rather lengthy monograph based on over 200 cervical lymphograms performed in the Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic at the University of Zurich. He describes this study in normal patients, patients with neoplasms, and those who have had either surgery or irradiation therapy. The purpose of the monograph is to describe the technique of the study and the topography of the cervical lymphatic system. Wisely, the author states, "It would be premature to consider it an established clinical method." He cautions that certain technical difficulties have not been overcome.
Chapter 1 describes the technique, which consists essentially of a skin incision in the retroauricular area, with cannulation of the deep lymphatic vessels. This area was chosen for technical and cosmetic reasons, although the lymphatics are finer than those used in pedal lymphography. There have been few complications, probably due to the smaller amounts of contrast media