Lymphoceles: imaging characteristics and percutaneous management.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Interventional Radiology
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Lymphoceles are fluid collections that can occur post-operatively or due to trauma.
• Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of lymphoceles are crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various imaging modalities for lymphoceles.
• To assess the efficacy of different interventional radiologic procedures for lymphocele treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 25 patients with lymphoceles.
• Analysis of sonography and computed tomography (CT) findings.
• Evaluation of diagnostic aspiration fluid analysis.
• Assessment of outcomes following needle aspiration, short-term catheter drainage, long-term catheter drainage, and sclerosing agent injection.

Main Results:

• Sonography showed hypoechoic to anechoic collections with occasional septa/debris.
• CT demonstrated low attenuation values, suggestive of lymphocele.
• Diagnostic aspiration revealed lymphocyte-rich fluid; fat globules were noted in 4 cases.
• Malignant cells were identified in 2 cases, an uncommon finding.
• Short-term drainage had a 20% cure rate, while long-term drainage achieved a 78.6% cure rate.
• Sclerosing agents appeared beneficial in 3 of 4 patients.

Conclusions:

• Radiologic imaging, including sonography and CT, is valuable for diagnosing lymphoceles.
• Long-term catheter drainage is a highly effective treatment for lymphoceles.
• Interventional radiologic procedures offer successful diagnosis and treatment options for lymphoceles.