ABSTRACT
Endolymphatic therapy has been carried out for the most part with radionuclides. First attempts at selective introduction of radioactive substances into the lymph nodes were made in 1954. Direct endolymphatic use of radionuclides began in the years 1962 and 1963 with the use of radioactive gold or iodine-131 loaded Lipiodol. The latter was modified by coupling the radionuclide with triolein and subsequently mixing it with Lipiodol. Endolymphatic injection of drugs has been described in only a few publications. Among the most interesting experiments were those in which BCG was injected endolymphatically for immune stimulation. Four lipid-based preparations were experimentally examined to identify the optimal endolymphatic drug carrier: suspensions, emulsions, solutions, and liposomes. When planning endolymphatic therapy, two important limitations should be not forgotten. First, it should be noted that the completely destroyed nodes become inaccessible to endolymphatic drugs upon cessation of lymph flow. The second restriction is connected with the anatomy of the lymph system.
