MR lymphangiography in the pediatric population: 10-year single institution experience

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) lymphangiography in the pediatric population, as well as assess patient risk factors which may impact procedural success. A total of 57 MR lymphangiograms (MRL) were performed over a 10-year period at a single stand-alone pediatric hospital. Patients with known or suspected pathology related to central lymphatic flow were enrolled. The study revealed a procedural success rate of 98.2 % for MR lymphangiography in the pediatric population, with visualization of the central lymphatics on MRI in 91.1 %. Patient age, body mass, and lymph node length did not have a statistically significant influence on the success of the procedure or MRI visualization of lymphatic channels. In the pediatric population, MRL has a high technical success rate and is a safe tool for assessing lymphatic abnormalities.