OBJECTIVETo study the cranial-cervical lymph return and pathway in rabbit in order to provide the experimental and theoretical basis for the study of intracranial metastasis of cervical tumor and extracranial metastasis of intracranial tumor.

METHODThe distribution and clearance of tracers were observed after microinjection of lymph developer labeled by 99mTc into cerebral cortex and deep cervical lymph nodes of rabbit.

RESULTSIn the cerebral cortex microinjection with 99=Tc-labeled lymph developer group, the radioactivity were detected in Willis artery, deep cervical lymph nodes and venous blood. The radioactivity curve was the same in Willis artery and deep cervical lymph nodes. The peak in the artery blood was higher than that in venous blood. In the lymph nodes microinjection with 99mTc-labeled lymph developer cervical group, the radioactivity were detected in skull base dura mater, brain, cerebrospinal fluid and venous blood. The peak in skull base dura mater showed earlier than that in cerebrospinal fluid and brain. The peak in venous blood was the last, but the radioactivity in it was the highest.

CONCLUSIONThe cranial-cervical lymph return in rabbit is existent. Their pathway perhaps is Willis artery, skull base dura mater and cerebrospinal fluid circulation.