REPEATED INTRANODAL LYMPHANGIOGRAPHY FOR THE TREATMENT OF LYMPHATIC LEAKAGE

Abstract

Treatment of patients with chylous ornon-chylous lymphatic leakage can bedifficult. An approach using therapeuticlymphangiography can reduce the lymphaticleakage, but it seldom stops the leakageimmediately and subsequent conservativetreatment is necessary. We report three casesin which intranodal lymphangiography wasperformed multiple times to inhibit lymphaticleakage. In each case, the lymph node waspunctured under ultrasound guidance using a23-gauge needle and lipiodol was injectedmanually at a rate of 1 ml/3 min. The procedurewas repeated twice in two cases ofgastrointestinal carcinoma and four times inone case of lymphoma. In all three cases, thepostoperative lymphatic leakage stopped afterthe repeated intranodal lymphangiography.