IMAGING OF CERVICOTHORACIC LYMPHANGIOMAS IN CHILDREN

This study was undertaken to define the role of ultrasound (US) and ma gnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis and preoperative stagin g of cervico-thoracic lymphangiomas in children, In a retrospective st udy, 11 patients with surgically and pathologically proved lymphangiom as had MR imaging and 6 of them underwent simultaneous US. US showed s uperficial hypoechogenic multilocular cystic masses with septa of vari able thickness, but failed to demonstrate retropharyngeal, axillary or mediastinal extensions in all patients. All lesions were identified o n both MR T1-weighted images (T1WI) and T2-weighted images (T2WI), T2W I provided the best tissue contrast between the lymphangiomas and surr ounding tissues. T1WI after i.v. injection of gadolinium DOTA (Gd DOTA ) in two patients provided additional information regarding the extent of the lesion, The authors concluded that although lymphangiomas have a distinctive sonographic appearance, MR imaging allowed a better tis sue characterisation and tumour extent. T2WI and T1WI after i.v. injec tion of Gd DOTA are especially helpful for the diagnosis and preoperat ive staging of cervico-thoracic lymphangiomas in children.