Lymphoscintigraphy in chyluria, chyloperitoneum and chylothorax.
Lymphoscintigraphy allows functional assessment of lymphatic transport and depiction of regional lymph nodes, is fast and nontraumatic and has no known side effects. We retrospectively analyzed lymphoscintigraphic studies to determine their efficacy in the investigation of chyluria, chyloperitoneum and chylothorax.


METHODS
Twenty-one whole-body lymphoscintigrams using 99mTc-antimony sulfide colloid or dextran were acquired in 18 patients with chyluria, chyloperitoneum and/or chylothorax. The images were reviewed to assess the rate of tracer transport and number, size and distribution of lymph vessels and nodes as well as the presence of collateral, fistula or lymph reflux.


RESULTS
Lymphoscintigraphy was normal (5 of 11 patients) or showed lymphatic obstruction (6 of 11 patients) in chyluria associated with filariasis. Lymphatic obstruction was demonstrated in chyloperitoneum and/or chylothorax associated with liver cirrhosis (2 patients), postoperative (1 patient) or congenital (1 patient) lymphatic dysplasia, inferior vena cava obstruction (1 patient) and nephrotic syndrome (1 patient). Enhanced lymph flow was seen in systemic lupus erythematosus (1 patient). Follow-up lymphoscintigrams showed patency of lymphovenous anastomosis (1 patient), improvement (1 patient) or no change (1 patient) in lymphatic drainage after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphoscintigraphy can demonstrate abnormal lymphatic drainage in chyluria, chyloperitoneum and chylothorax. It is useful for selecting patients for surgery and assessing the effect of treatment.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
M H
MH
Pui
T C
TC
Yueh
D000328:Adult; D000965:Antimony; D002913:Chyle; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002915:Chylous Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003102:Colloids; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017556:Technetium Compounds; D014556:Urine
D003102:Colloids; D003911:Dextrans; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017556:Technetium Compounds; C019096:technetium Tc 99m antimony sulfide; C034146:technetium Tc 99m dextran; D000965:Antimony