Comparison of standardised lymphoscintigraphic function test and high resolution sonography of the lymphoedema of legs

Abstract

SummaryPurpose: Comparison of qualitative and quantitative sonography with the lymphoscintigraphic function test and clinical findings in legs. Patients, methods: In 33 patients a lymphoscintigraphic function test of legs combined with measurement of lymph node uptake was performed and subsequently compared with sonography. Sonographic criteria were: Thickness of cutis, thickness of subcutanean fatty tissue and presence of liquid structures or fine disperse tissue structure of lower limbs, foots and toes. Results: In 51 legs uptake values lie in the pathologic area, in four legs in the grey area and in ten legs in the normal area. The cutis thickness in the lower leg shows no significant correlation with the uptake. The determination of the thickness of the subcutanean fatty tissue of the lower leg and of the cutis thickness of the feet turned out to be an unreliable method. In 47% of the medial lower legs and in 57% of the lateral lower legs with clinical lymphoedema sonography is falsely negative. Conclusion: Early lymphoedema is only detectable with the lymphoscintigraphic function test. In the case of clinical lymphoedema clinical examination is more reliable than sonography.