Indirect magnetic resonance lymphangiography to assess lymphatic function in experimental murine lymphedema.
BACKGROUND
Recently, indirect magnetic resonance lymphangiography with gadolinium (Gd) has been demonstrated to offer the potential for safe, high-resolution visualization of the lymphatic vessels, in addition to the lymph nodes. In this study, the potential utility of indirect Gd contrast magnetic resonance imaging of lymphatic vascular function was investigated in the murine tail. Functional imaging of healthy mice is contrasted with the findings in experimentally-induced lymphatic vascular insufficiency.


METHODS
Postsurgical lymphedema was experimentally created in the murine tail. Normal and lymphedematous mouse tails were imaged following direct subcutaneous administration of Gadolinium-DTPA, 0.1 mmol/kg. Images were obtained in axial and coronal planes with a T1-weighted spin echo inversion-recovery sequence.


RESULTS
In the normal tail, both of the bilateral major collecting lymphatics were clearly visualized as the Gd tracer was cleared from the interstitial compartment. In contrast, the Gd tracer accumulated at the prior surgical site in the lymphedematous tail. Quantitative assessment of Gd clearance demonstrates that accumulation of Gd correlates with the impedance to lymph flow proximal to the site of surgical lymphatic ablation.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance is a feasible and reliable method to be applied to quantitative functional imaging of the lymphatic vasculature in experimental models of lymphedema.
Pan
Da
D
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Suzuki
Yori
Y
Yang
Phillip C
PC
Rockson
Stanley G
SG
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000473:pathology*; D008220:Lymphography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013623:Tail / Q000473:pathology
D005682:Gadolinium