title: Assessment of configuration of thoracic duct using magnetic resonance thoracic ductography in idiopathic lymphedema.
abstract: The structure and the function of the peripheral lymph channels have been investigated, but the thoracic duct has not. This study used magnetic resonance thoracic ductography for 2 patients with idiopathic lymphedema to evaluate the configuration of the thoracic duct in these patients. Anomalies of the thoracic duct were detected in both cases. This result suggests that deformity of the thoracic duct is one of the causes of idiopathic lymphedema. Characterization of the etiology could lead to a breakthrough in resolving the occurrence of idiopathic lymphedema and developing a treatment procedure for it. In addition, visualization of the thoracic duct may assist in selecting the optimal therapy for each idiopathic lymphedema patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. hisako_hara@hotmail.co.jp
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
authors.forename: Itsuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Mitsunaga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narushima
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Todokoro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult