Lymphangitis of the foot demonstrating lymphatic drainage pathways from the sole.

Abstract

There are two main lymphatic routes from the lower extremity: the fibular route to the popliteal node and the tibial route to the distant groin node. However, little is known about lymphatics from the sole. We attempted to obtain detailed knowledge of the lymphatics from the sole. Eight patients with lymphangitis were examined and compared with the drainage patterns visualized by blue-dye injection in 7 cases of melanoma. Six lymphangitic streaks started from the lateral edge of the plantar surface, 2 from the heel, and 1 each from the center of the sole and the little toe. All streaks ran to the tibial side and went up along the foot branch of the great saphenous vein. These findings were similar to those of the dye-injected melanoma cases. Lymphangitis makes visualization of lymphatic routes possible and may provide useful information about drainage.