Abstract

The lymphatics are often referred to as the “forgotten circulation,” due in part to the lack of imaging approaches with spatial and temporal resolution to assess architecture and function. Herein we present planar, dynamic images of normal and diseased human lymphatics which show for the first time, the contractile function of lymphangions and abnormalities with disease. The development of NIR fluorescence tomography is required to fully develop lymphangiography.

© 2010 Optical Society of America