THE ROLE OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN DIAGNOSIS OF PERIPHERAL LYMPHATIC DISORDERS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was used in 13 patients with periphe ral lymphedema and 2 patients with extensive cavernous lymphangioma of the limb for the purpose of evaluating its role in diagnosis of lymph atic disorders, in chronic lymphedema, MRI showed deformity of lymphat ics at different tissue levels. In the subcutis, MRI characteristicall y displayed diffuse edema or a honeycombed pattern consistent with ret icular lymphangiectasis and ''lakes'' with a marked increase in signal intensity with T2-weighted imaging. In lymphedema hyperplasia and chy lous reflux, MRI depicted dilated retroperitoneal lymphatic collectors and lumbar trunks. In cavernous lymphangiomatosis, MRI demonstrated a prominent lattice-like pattern which had lower signal intensity on T1 -weighted imaging and higher intensify on T2-weighted imaging. The fin dings of MRI are valuable not only for accurate assessment of lymphati c dysplasia syndromes but also provide a blueprint for treatment optio ns.