Ojective To study the diagnosis and treatment of upper extremity edema after radical mastectomy. Methods Diagnosis depended on B type ultrasoundgraphy, CT, lymphography, venography, biopsy and axilla exploration. Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) with microsurgery technology was used for the treatment of simple lymphoedema. Results In 40 cases of lymphoedma after radical mastectomy, 7 patients were diagnosed as metastasis of cancer. 3 patients were diagnosed obstrcution of lymphatic and vein. 30 patients with simple lymphedema were treated with LVA. Short term efficacy was observed in all patients.The efficacy at 3～12 years was 83.3%. Conclusion The diagnosis of upper limb edema after radical mastectomy is essential. Metastasis and obstruction of vein are the causes. Biopsy conducted under high frequency B type ultrasoundgraphy may be a good method for the diagnsosis of matastasis, but a few patients were diagnosed only by axilla exploration. LVA may be given first priority to the theraphy of lymphedema after radical mastectomy.

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and therapy of intestinal lymphangiectasia.Methods In this study 15 patients were admitted in our hospital during recent 7 years.Clinical manifestations included hypoalbuminemia,symmetrical edema,emaciation,diarrhea and lymphopenia.Lymphangiography,lympanscintigraphy and biopsy were performed for diagnosis.Therapy conducted included conservative therapy,low-fat and medium-chain triglycerides(MCT)diet,albumin infusions,diuretics,total parenteral nutrition and octreotide.Surgical therapy ineluded thoracic duct-vein anastomasis and segmental resection.Results In this group 8 patients receiving conservative therapy were followed-up from 1.5 to 7 years(average 2.5 years).Symptoms were alleviated in 6 patients.Seven patients underwent operative therapy,among them,4 patients received thoracic duct-exterior jugular vein anastomasis and followed-up from 1 to 5 years,with symptoms mitigated in 2 patients.3 patients underwent local intestinal resection,follow-up from 1 to 3 years found one patient was cured,one was improved,and 1 patient died 3 months afterthe operation. Conclusion Intestinal lymphangiectasia is rather rare and there was no definite and effective therapy.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis and therapy of chylous reflux and external chylous fistula.

METHODSAll of 6 patients were diagnosed with direct lymphagiography, lymphscintigraphy. Among them, 2 patients received CT after direct lymphagiography. Retroperitoneal lymphangiectomy plus lymph-vein shunting was performed in 5 patients, and retroperitoneal lymphangiectomy in 1 patient.

RESULTSThe 6 patients were followed up from 6 months to 6 years. In 5 patients, chylous cysts disappeared and chylous fistula closed, and in 1 patient, chylous fistula didn't cicatrize, and chyle still leak out from the scrotum.

CONCLUSIONSRetroperitoneal lymphangiectomy plus lymph-vein shunting has curative effect on chylous external fistula of the lower extremity and genitalia, but it has the chance to not obstruct all paths of chylous reflex.

Chyle ; Fistula ; Humans