An easy method for diagnosis of lymphedema. 1990

T B Richards, and M McBiles, and P S Collins
Department of Surgery, Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, California 94129-6700.

Lymphoscintigraphy has been very useful in determination of lymphatic abnormalities. However, the radioactive isotopes used have been investigational and difficult obtain. The purpose of this study was to examine patients with extremity edema by lymphoscintigraphy using a radioactive colloid readily available in our nuclear pharmacy, Technetium 99m sulfur minicolloid. Forty limbs in 20 patients were evaluated using Technetium 99m sulfur minicolloid lymphoscintigraphy. All patients had lower extremity edema initially attributed to a venous or lymphatic etiology. There were 12 patients with normal bilateral studies. Seven patients exhibited unilateral obstruction to lymphatic flow, and one had unilateral enhanced flow of lymph. Those with normal studies included five patients with nonspecific edema, four with varicosities, and one patient each with acute deep vein thrombosis, chylous ascites, and excision of the greater saphenous vein for arterial bypass grafting. Five patients with obstructed patterns had previous arterial bypass procedures, one had trauma to the extremity, and one had lymphedema tarda. The one enhanced lymphoscintigraphic pattern was seen in a patient with acute cellulitis. All patients had Doppler venous examinations and other studies included strain gauge phlethysmography, venograms, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. As with other scintigraphic imaging agents used to study lymphatic flow, Technetium 99m provides clinically useful information in evaluating the swollen extremity noninvasively.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007866 Leg The inferior part of the lower extremity between the KNEE and the ANKLE. Legs
D008208 Lymphatic System A system of organs and tissues that process and transport immune cells and LYMPH. Lymphatic Systems
D008209 Lymphedema Edema due to obstruction of lymph vessels or disorders of the lymph nodes. Milroy's Disease,Congenital Familial Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedema,Early Onset Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema,Hereditary Lymphedema 1,Hereditary Lymphedema Type I,Lymphedema, Early-Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary, Ia,Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Disease,Nonne-Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne-Milroy-Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedema,Congenital Hereditary Lymphedemas,Congenital Lymphedema, Primary,Congenital Lymphedemas, Primary,Early Onset Lymphedemas,Early-Onset Lymphedema,Early-Onset Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedema 1s,Hereditary Lymphedema, Congenital,Hereditary Lymphedemas,Hereditary Lymphedemas, Congenital,Lymphedema, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedema, Early Onset,Lymphedema, Hereditary,Lymphedema, Nonne-Milroy,Lymphedema, Primary Congenital,Lymphedemas,Lymphedemas, Congenital Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Early Onset,Lymphedemas, Early-Onset,Lymphedemas, Hereditary,Lymphedemas, Primary Congenital,Milroys Disease,Nonne Milroy Disease,Nonne Milroy Lymphedema,Nonne Milroy Meige Disease,Primary Congenital Lymphedemas
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011877 Radionuclide Imaging The production of an image obtained by cameras that detect the radioactive emissions of an injected radionuclide as it has distributed differentially throughout tissues in the body. The image obtained from a moving detector is called a scan, while the image obtained from a stationary camera device is called a scintiphotograph. Gamma Camera Imaging,Radioisotope Scanning,Scanning, Radioisotope,Scintigraphy,Scintiphotography,Imaging, Gamma Camera,Imaging, Radionuclide
D005069 Evaluation Studies as Topic Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies. Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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