title: Lymphangiography in the diagnosis and localization of various chyle leaks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chyle leaks are rare entities infrequently encountered by most physicians. However, large centers providing advanced surgical care are inevitably confronted with chyle leaks as a complication of surgery, an extension of disease, or as a primary disorder. Regardless of the etiology, proper diagnosis and localization are paramount in the management of any chyle leak.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we present 16 patients with 17 chyle leaks (5 chyluria, 8 chylothorax, and 4 chylous ascites) who underwent bipedal lymphangiography (LAG) and postprocedure computed tomography (CT) imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each case, the source of the chyle leak was identified and properly localized to guide further treatment. Of the 16 patients who underwent LAG and postprocedure CT imaging, the initial LAG alone provided the diagnosis and localized the chyle leak in 4 patients (25%); the postprocedure CT imaging provided the diagnosis and localized the chyle leak in 6 patients (37.5%); and the two modalities were equal in the diagnosing and localizing the chyle leak in the remaining 6 patients (37.5%)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cases highlight the unparalleled abilities of LAG and the added benefit of post-LAG CT imaging in the diagnosis and fine anatomic localization of chyle leaks. In addition, these cases demonstrate the retained utility of LAG in these investigations despite the development of alternative tests involving CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Transitional Year Residency Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deso
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Nii-Kabu
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kabutey
authors.forename: Ducksoo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guermazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002913:Chyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002916:Chylothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002915:Chylous Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004998:Ethiodized Oil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008220:Lymphography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004998:Ethiodized Oil