Comparison of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic magnetic resonance lymphangiography for investigating extremity lymphoedema

Background: Lymphoscintigraphy is widely used to image the lymphatic system. The aim of this study was to compare lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic magnetic resonance lymphangiography (MRL) in the investigation of extremity lymphoedema. Methods: Sixteen patients with primary extremity lymphoedema and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of surgery 2010-03, Vol.97 (3), p.359-365
Main Authors: Liu, N.-F., Lu, Q., Liu, P.-A., Wu, X.-F., Wang, B.-S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Arm
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular system
Child
Contrast Media
Diseases of the lymphatic vessels
Female
General aspects
Humans
Inguinal Canal
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Leg
Lymphedema - diagnostic imaging
Lymphedema - pathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical sciences
Meglumine - analogs & derivatives
Middle Aged
Organometallic Compounds
Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
Radionuclide Imaging
Young Adult
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Summary:Background: Lymphoscintigraphy is widely used to image the lymphatic system. The aim of this study was to compare lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic magnetic resonance lymphangiography (MRL) in the investigation of extremity lymphoedema. Methods: Sixteen patients with primary extremity lymphoedema and two with Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome with lymphoedema were examined by lymphoscintigraphy using the tracer 99Tc‐labelled dextran, and by MRL using gadobenate dimeglumine as contrast agent. Morphological abnormalities and functional state of the lymphatic systems of affected limbs were compared between the two imaging methods. Results: Lymphatic vessels were imaged in 14 of 18 limbs with lymphoedema using MRL, compared with one of 18 using lymphoscintigraphy. MRL detected the inguinal nodes in 16 of 17 patients, whereas lymphoscintigraphy revealed inguinal nodes in only nine. MRL revealed more precise information about structural and functional abnormalities of lymph vessels and nodes than lymphoscintigraphy by real‐time measurement of lymph flow in vessels and nodes. Conclusion: Dynamic MRL was more sensitive and accurate than lymphoscintigraphy in the detection of anatomical and functional abnormalities in the lymphatic system in patients with extremity lymphoedema. Copyright © 2010 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The MR technique was superior
ISSN:0007-1323
1365-2168
DOI:10.1002/bjs.6893