[Value of nuclear magnetic resonance tomography in leg edema of unknown origin. Preliminary report]

G T Werner1, S O Rodiek

  • 1Abteilung für Physikalische Medizin und medizinische Rehabilitation, Städtischen Krankenhaus München-Bogenhausen.

Zeitschrift Fur Lymphologie. Journal of Lymphology
|August 1, 1993
PubMed

Edemas of the leg sometimes pose problems for diagnosis. Invasive procedures like lymphography or phlebography are either difficult to perform or might endanger the lymphatics. The value of magnetic resonance imaging was assessed in 20 patients with lymphedema, lipedema and phlebedema. Images of patients with lipedema showed homogenous enlarged subcutaneous tissue. In lymphedema a honeycomb pattern in the subcutaneous tissue was observed; in phlebedema there was an increase of fluid within the muscle. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful in differentiating lymphedema, lipedema or phlebedema.