Comparison study of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic magnetic resonance lymphangiography for the diagnosis of extremity lymphedema.
- Author:
Ning-fei LIU
1
;
Qing LU
;
Ping-an LIU
;
Zhi-xin YAN
;
Xiu-feng WU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Extremities; Female; Humans; Lymphedema; diagnostic imaging; Lymphography; methods; Lymphoscintigraphy; methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2011;27(4):241-245
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo compare the role of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic magnetic resonance lymphangiography (MRL) for the diagnosis of extremity lymphedema.
METHODSSixteen patients with primary extremity lymphedema and two with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome combined with lymphedema were examined by lymphoscintigraphy using the tracer 99Tc-labelled dextran, and also by MRL using gadobenate dimeglumine as contrast agent. The results of morphological abnormalities and functional state of the lymphatic system at affected limbs from the two imaging methods were compared.
RESULTSLymphatic vessels were imaged in 14 of 18 limbs with lymphedema 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 cases. 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.
CONCLUSIONSDynamic MRL is more sensitive and accurate than lymphoscintigraphy in the detection of anatomical and functional abnormalities in the lymphatic system in patients with extremity lymphedema.
