Endovascular and Percutaneous Lymphatic Interventions in Cancer Patients: A Review Article

Abstract

Lymphatic complications are becoming increasingly identified in cancer patients. Chylous ascites, chylothorax, lymphoceles, and lymphorrhea are common in cancer patients and can occur due to traumatic injury during surgeries or infiltrative effects of the tumors themselves. Recently, some anti-neoplastic medications are also thought to result in lymphatic complications. Management options range from conservative options to minimally invasive interventions, to surgical interventions with no standardized management strategy. Imaging techniques such as dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography and intranodal computed tomography or fluoroscopic lymphangiography are becoming more valuable in diagnosis and treatment planning. Minimally invasive interventions are rapidly evolving and have become the first-line intervention in most cases. Current research, however, faces limitations due to study design and variability. Standardized reporting and prospective studies are needed to advance the field. This review summarizes some of the latest literature on lymphatic interventions in cancer patients and provides reporting recommendations for future studies on lymphatic interventions.