title: Lymphadenopathy in the mesenteric pedicle of the free jejunal flap: reactive lymphadenopathy, not metastatic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reconstructive surgery using the free jejunal flap is sometimes performed to close surgical defects in patients undergoing pharyngolaryngectomy for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. The clinical significance of lymph nodes in the flap was retrospectively examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients had undergone a laryngectomy with free jejunal flap reconstruction between March 1996 and October 1999. The appearance and size of lymph nodes of the flap were examined by 3 radiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lymph nodes were observed in 10 patients. Size increases were noted within 1 year after surgery but not beyond 1 year. The pathologic diagnosis of the excised nodes was reactive lymphadenopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymph nodes may occasionally become apparent in the free jejunal flap. There was no suggestion of metastatic lymph nodes when examined retrospectively. We speculate that this reaction was the result of environmental changes attributable to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makimoto
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Motoori
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneoya
authors.forename: Ryouta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shimofusa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D007479:Iopamidol; D007583:Jejunum / Q000637:transplantation*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000637:transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol