LYMPHOSCINTIGRAPHIC FINDINGS THAT PREDICT FAVORABLE OUTCOME AFTER LYMPHATICOVENOUS ANASTOMOSIS

Abstract

Radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy is an
imaging technique used to radiologically
evaluate the lymphatic system which can be
utilized to evaluate signs of lymphatic
obstruction that could be indication for
lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA)
operations. Our objective was to investigate
and identify the radiographic signs in
lymphoscinigraphy that predict favorable
outcome after LVA. We retrospectively
reviewed the medical charts of 80 patients
with upper or lower-limb lymphedema who
underwent initial lymphoscintigraphy before
LVA during the 2011 to 2014 study period to
evaluate statistical association between
lymphoscintigraphic findings and the clinical
result after LVA. Following LVA, clinical
improvement was observed in 50 patients (48
female and 2 male) with no clinical improvement
evident in the remaining 1 male and 29
females. Dilated lymph vessels and dermal
backflow were identified as the abnormal
finding in lymphoscintigraphy that were
significantly correlated with improved clinical
result after LVA. Our conclusion is that
radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy prior to LVA
is helpful in identifying patients for whom
LVA is of benefit. Based on our findings,
presence of dilated lymph vessels and presence
of dermal backflow are significantly correlated
with improved clinical result after LVA.