A systematic review comparing lymphoscintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging techniques in the assessment of peripheral lymphedema

Magnetic resonance lymphography findings across different clinical stages of lower limb lymphedema

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the findings on lower limb lymphedema using magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL).

METHODS

MRL was used to record the lymphatic vessel morphology, distribution of lymphatic vessels, dermal backflow (DBF), and morphology of inguinal lymph nodes in 112 patients (175 affected limbs) with lower limb lymphedema at different clinical stages (according to the International Society of Lymphology staging criteria 2020).

RESULTS

The lymphatic vessel morphology significantly differed at different clinical stages (X2 =59.306; P = 0.000). ISL stage I is dominated by "scattered beads" and "branch-like" distribution, ISL stage Ⅱ has tree branch or "capillary-like" distribution, and ISL stage Ⅲ primarily has a capillary pattern and contrast agent accumulation in the foot. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of lymphatic vessels and DBF in different clinical stages. Distribution of the enhanced lymphatic vessels was distal to the knee in ISL stage I, involved areas below the knee joint or the whole limb in ISL stage II, and involved the whole limb in ISL stage III (X2 =44.591; P = 0.000). With the progression of edema, DBF severity increased (X2 =76.416; P = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

MRL revealed the morphology and distribution of lymphatic vessels and detected abnormal inguinal lymph nodes in patients at different stages of lymphedema, which can be used as reference information for surgical treatment.

Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Assessed via Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurements

This review describes the use of tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements mainly in the assessment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were initially searched using criteria that included the terms "dielectric" and "lymphedema." The initial search yielded a total of 131 titles. After removing studies not focused on upper extremity lymphedema, 56 articles remained. These articles, together with relevant articles from their bibliographies, formed the basis of the review. The findings show the potential utility and applications of TDC measurements to help detect and track BCRL, whether present in limbs, breasts, or trunks. It is reported as a non-invasive, simple-to-use method, with each measurement requiring less than 10 seconds, suggesting its practicality and useability as an in-office or in-clinic screening and tracking method. Although there are various ways to quantitatively evaluate lymphedema, most, if not all, are restricted to measurements on limbs. Thus, one significant advantage of the TDC approach is that almost any local region of interest can be effectively measured and tracked, which, for BCRL, could include specific regions of arms or hands, breasts, and truncal areas.

Lymphedema after saphenous harvesting for coronary artery bypass surgery: case report and literature review

Different causes have been described for secondary lymphedema as reported in this article. A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with lymphedema about one decade after saphenous harvesting for coronary artery bypass surgery. It took two years for him to find out his diagnosis and receive the proper treatment. After standard complete decongestive therapy, his volume and pain decreased and his quality of life was improved, especially its physical aspect. It is important to recognize the possibility of lymphedema development after saphenous harvesting among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery to prevent significant disturbance of quality of life with timely management.