TY - JOUR
T1 - Whole-body lymphangioscintigraphy
T2 - Preferred method for initial assessment of the peripheral lymphatic system
AU - McNeill, G. C.
AU - Witte, M. H.
AU - Witte, C. L.
AU - Williams, W. H.
AU - Hall, J. N.
AU - Patton, D. D.
AU - Pond, G. D.
AU - Woolfenden, J. M.
PY - 1989
Y1 - 1989
N2 - In 20 patients with congenital and acquired lymphedema in either upper or lower extremities and in four patients without extremity edema, human serum albumin labeled with technetium-99m was injected intradermally into a digital web space of the hand or foot. With a digital gamma camera that permitted a 'sweep' of the torso, serial extremity and whole-body lymphangioscintigraphy (LAS) of the peripheral lymphatic system was performed. In 11 patients with acquired lymphedema, a well-defined obstructive pattern was seen, characterized by discrete peripheral lymphatic trunks, delayed or absent depiction of regional nodes, and delayed but extensive soft-tissue tracer extravasation. Five of nine patients with congenital lymphedema showed hypoplasia characterized by poorly defined lymphatic trunks, delayed depiction of regional nodes, and early and extensive extravasation of tracer. The other four patients showed aplasia, with absence of trunks, no depiction of nodes, and little or no tracer extravasation. LAS is technically simple to perform and requires no special training. Radiation exposure is minuscule, and the procedure is safe and without apparent side effects. For these reasons, whole-body LAS should be the preferred method for the initial assessment of congenital or acquired lymphedema.
AB - In 20 patients with congenital and acquired lymphedema in either upper or lower extremities and in four patients without extremity edema, human serum albumin labeled with technetium-99m was injected intradermally into a digital web space of the hand or foot. With a digital gamma camera that permitted a 'sweep' of the torso, serial extremity and whole-body lymphangioscintigraphy (LAS) of the peripheral lymphatic system was performed. In 11 patients with acquired lymphedema, a well-defined obstructive pattern was seen, characterized by discrete peripheral lymphatic trunks, delayed or absent depiction of regional nodes, and delayed but extensive soft-tissue tracer extravasation. Five of nine patients with congenital lymphedema showed hypoplasia characterized by poorly defined lymphatic trunks, delayed depiction of regional nodes, and early and extensive extravasation of tracer. The other four patients showed aplasia, with absence of trunks, no depiction of nodes, and little or no tracer extravasation. LAS is technically simple to perform and requires no special training. Radiation exposure is minuscule, and the procedure is safe and without apparent side effects. For these reasons, whole-body LAS should be the preferred method for the initial assessment of congenital or acquired lymphedema.
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U2 - 10.1148/radiology.172.2.2748831
DO - 10.1148/radiology.172.2.2748831
M3 - Article
C2 - 2748831
AN - SCOPUS:0024370934
SN - 0033-8419
VL - 172
SP - 495
EP - 502
JO - Radiology
JF - Radiology
IS - 2
ER -