Interstitial high-resolution MR lymphangiography in patients with lower extremity lymphedema / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the feasibility of interstitial magnetic resonance lymphangiography (IMRL) with intracutaneous injection of gadobenate dimeglumine--a commercially available, non-ionic, extracellular paramagnetic contrast agent.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We studied 10 patients with lower extremity lymphedema. A mixture of 7.5 ml gadobenate dimeglumine and 0.5 ml 2% lidocaine were evenly subdivided into 8 portions and injected intracutaneously into each web space of both feet. For IMRL, a 3D fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo T1-weighted images with a fat saturation technique (T1 high resolution isotropic volume excitation, THRIVE) was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The beaded appearance of lymphatic vessels extending from the injection site were detected in 11 of 12 lower legs and the best delineation of lymphatic vessels was present at 15-30 minutes after injection. In 6 of 12 affected thighs, lymphatic vessels could be also visualized with the strongest enhancement at 45 minutes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IMRL is a safe and technically feasible new method which can effectively visualize the pathological lymphatic vessels in lower extremity lymphedema.</p>