Lymphoscintigraphy in limb lymphoedema: Current methodology and interests

Baulieu, F.; Tauveron, Valérie; Erra, B.; Müller, Christine; Courtehoux, Maxime; Venel, Y.; Senon, D. Casset; Lorette, G.; Baulieu, Jean-Louis; Ribeiro, Maria-João; Vaillant, L.

doi:10.1016/j.mednuc.2015.02.009

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Lymphoscintigraphy is able to demonstrate the flow of lymph in both the superficial and deep lymphatic pathways and can detect abnormal lymphatic circulation patterns, such as a-, hypo-, or hyperplasia of vessels and nodes and dermal backflow [29][30][31]. It has been shown to have high sensitivity (96%) and specificity (100%) for lymphedema [20], capable of definitively distinguishing lymphedema from other sources of edema (e.g., venous incompetence), in cases where venous problems have been ruled out.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Procedural Recommendations for Lymphoscintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Lymphedema: the Genoa Protocol

Villa

Campisi²,

Ryan

et al. 2019

Nucl Med Mol Imaging

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Lymphoscintigraphy is the gold standard for imaging in the diagnosis of peripheral lymphedema. However, there are no clear guidelines to standardize usage across centers, and as such, large variability exists. The aim of this perspectives paper is to draw upon the knowledge and extensive experience of lymphoscintigraphy here in Genoa, Italy, from our center of excellence in the assessment and treatment of lymphatic disorders for over 30 years to provide general guidelines for nuclear medicine specialists. Method The authors describe the technical characteristics of lymphoscintigraphy in patients with limb swelling. Radioactive tracers, dosage, administration sites, and the rationale for a two-compartment protocol with the inclusion of subfascial lymphatic vessels are all given in detail.Results Examples of lymphoscintigraphic investigations with various subgroups of patients are discussed. The concept of a transport index (TI) for semi-quantitative analysis of normal/pathological lymphatic flow is introduced. Different concepts of injection techniques are outlined. Discussion It is past time that lymphoscintigraphy in the diagnosis of lymphatic disorders becomes standardized. This represents our first attempt to outline a clear protocol and delineate the relevant points for lymphoscintigraphy in this patient population.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Procedural Recommendations for Lymphoscintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Lymphedema: the Genoa Protocol

Villa

Campisi²,

Ryan

et al. 2019

Nucl Med Mol Imaging

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Baulieu et al considered lymphatic vessels in children aged < 2 years to be poorly visualized. 7 The interpretation criteria for evaluating lymphatic dysfunction included inguinal lymph node-uptake asymmetry, compared with the contralateral side, ranging from the total absence of visualization to intermediate, diminished lymph node uptake or a normal appearance. Popliteal node visualization was considered an important sign of abnormal lymphatic function, as it suggests rerouting through the deep lymphatic system.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Paediatric primary lymphoedema: a cohort of 155 children and newborns

Vidal¹,

Arrault²,

Vignes³

2016

Br J Dermatol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…SPECT/CT mostly confirmed and improved localized findings from planar scintigraphy, and soft tissue changes could be assessed. [49][50][51]…”

Section: Parameters For Diagnosis and Severity Stagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imaging of the Lymphatic Vessels for Surgical Planning: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Secondary lymphedema is a common complication after surgical or radiotherapeutic cancer treatment. (Micro) surgical intervention such as lymphovenous bypass and vascularized lymph node transfer is a possible solution in patients who are refractory to conventional treatment. Adequate imaging is needed to identify functional lymphatic vessels and nearby veins for surgical planning. Methods A systematic literature search of the Embase, MEDLINE ALL via Ovid, Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Trials databases was conducted in February 2022. Studies reporting on lymphatic vessel detection in healthy subjects or secondary lymphedema of the limbs or head and neck were analyzed. Results Overall, 129 lymphatic vessel imaging studies were included, and six imaging modalities were identified. The aim of the studies was diagnosis, severity staging, and/or surgical planning. Conclusion Due to its utility in surgical planning, near-infrared fluorescence lymphangiography (NIRF-L) has gained prominence in recent years relative to lymphoscintigraphy, the current gold standard for diagnosis and severity staging. Magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL) gives three-dimensional detailed information on the location of both lymphatic vessels and veins and the extent of fat hypertrophy; however, MRL is less practical for routine presurgical implementation due to its limited availability and high cost. High frequency ultrasound imaging can provide high resolution imaging of lymphatic vessels but is highly operator-dependent and accurate identification of lymphatic vessels is difficult. Finally, photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a novel technique for visualization of functional lymphatic vessels and veins. More evidence is needed to evaluate the utility of PAI in surgical planning.

show abstract

Lymphoscintigraphy in limb lymphoedema: Current methodology and interests

Cited by 6 publications

References 25 publications

Procedural Recommendations for Lymphoscintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Lymphedema: the Genoa Protocol

Procedural Recommendations for Lymphoscintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Lymphedema: the Genoa Protocol

Paediatric primary lymphoedema: a cohort of 155 children and newborns

Imaging of the Lymphatic Vessels for Surgical Planning: A Systematic Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About