title: MR lymphography of lymphatic vessels in lower extremity with gynecologic oncology-related lymphedema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize lymphatic vessel morphology in lower extremity lymphedema using MR lymphography at 3T.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty females with lower extremity lymphedema secondary to gynecologic carcinoma treatment underwent MR lymphography (MRL) at 3T. Lymphatic vessel morphology in normal and affected limbs was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median diameter of the lymphatic vessels in swollen calf and thigh were significantly larger than that in the contralateral calf and thigh, respectively (p<0.05). The median number of lymphatic vessels visualized in normal calf was less than that in the lymphedematous calf (p<0.01), while no significant difference was found between the normal thigh and swollen thigh. Lymphatic vessel number in the affected calf was significantly greater than that in affected thigh and the mean diameter of affected calf was also significantly wider than that of affected thigh (p<0.01). Mean diameter of lymphatic vessels in the affected calf was significantly different between stage I and stage III (p<0.05), but not significantly different between stages I and II, and between stages II and III (p>0.05). The median number of lymphatic vessels for affected calf showed significant difference between stage I and stage III, and between stage II and stage III (p<0.05), but no significant difference between stage I and stage II (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in mean diameter or median number of lymphatic vessels in the affected thigh found between different stages (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant differences in the number or diameter of lymphatic vessels between normal and affected limbs and there are significant differences for affected calf between early and late stages of lymphedema; therefore, MR lymphography can be helpful in diagnosis or clinical staging for lower extremity with gynecologic oncology-related lymphedema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Delproposto
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Ningfei
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yulai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Duy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Jiani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000494:pharmacology; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008220:Lymphography / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA