[Detection of lymph vessel changes in venous diseases of the leg using imaging procedures]

Chronic venous insufficiency reveals both functional correlations with the lymphatic system of the limbs as well as pathological-anatomical. The functional correlation initially consists in an enhancement of function as a manifestation of a compensation mechanism of lymphatic drainage in relation to the insufficient venous system. Finally, if the lymphatics are themselves damaged in their further course, a safety valve insufficiency occurs with resulting lymphostasis. Apart from this participation, regional damages to the lymphatic fascicles play a role in chronic venous insufficiency in trophic disorders, as for example leg ulcer and atrophy. However, these are far less significant for the overall function of lymphatic drainage. As a role, they show a pronounced collateralization, and thus good possibilities of functional compensation. In particular indirect lymphography with water-soluble contrast medium is suitable as imaging technique in diagnostics with regard to the morphology. Isotope lymphography is suitable with regard to investigating the function of lymphatic drainage and for circumscribed local disorders. As native techniques, xeroradiography and computed tomography are very suitable to analyse tissue damage of the cutis and subcutis resulting from chronic venous insufficiency and from lymphostasis and to make indirect inferences from this with regard to the chronicity of this disease process.