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.