MRI AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN THE INVESTIGATION OF LYMPHEDEMA AND LIPEDEMA

Methods. Twenty-four healthy subjects and 16 patients with lymphedema and lipedema were studied with MRI and ultra-tomography. Results. In c hronic lymphedema, ultrasonography revealed a statistically significan t increase of the subcutaneous fat without difference in skin thicknes s as compared to the healthy subjects, MRI revealed in lymphedema a st atistically significant increase of skin thickness+subcutaneous tissue + muscular mass (p=0.048); in lipedema, a statistically significant i ncrease of skin thickness and subcutaneous tissue (p<0.0001) as compar ed to the healthy controls. Conclusions. MRI offers strong qualitative and quantitative parameters in the diagnosis of lymphedema and lipoly mphedema, while ultrasonography is expected to improve its diagnostic efficiency with the aid of high frequency echo with more sophisticated resolution apparatus, Age, weight and height of the patient as well a s duration of the disease do not seem to affect the above-mentioned pa rameters.