Treatment of recurrent inguinal lymphocele by lymphatic leakage mapping and subsequent ligation of lymphatic vessel endings: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Different approaches have been attempted in both prophylaxis and treatment of recurrent inguinal lymphoceles; however, to date none have been consistently effective. We hereby report our preliminary experience with mapping of the lymphatic leakage followed by ligation of these mapped vessels for resolution of a recurrent inguinal lymphocele.


METHODS
A 73-year-old woman underwent an anterior modified radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinofemoral lymph node dissection due to squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Postoperatively she presented with a recurrent inguinal lymphocele unresponsive to several treatment measures. After 8 weeks, the patient underwent lymphatic leakage mapping and subsequent ligation of lymphatic vessel endings, which resolved her recurrent lymphocele.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphatic mapping and ligation of afferent lymphatics may be a useful method for treating recurrent lymphoceles after inguinofemoral lymph node dissection. Further studies are warranted to prove the absolute efficacy of this technique.
Lavie
Ofer
O
Division of Gynecologic Surgery and Oncology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. olavie@internet.zahav.net
Karmeli
Ron
R
Mansano
Roy
R
Hallak
Moshe
M
Bornstein
Jacob
J
Abramovici
Haim
H
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery