2019/12/25 by Marco Pappalardo, Chieh Lin, Olivia A. Ho +3
Medicine · #Lymphatic Disorders and Treatments #Lymphatic System and Diseases #Omental and Epiploic Conditions
paper · doi:10.1002/jso.25817
crossref issued 2019/12/25 · crossref published 2019/12/25 · crossref published-online 2019/12/25 · openalex publication_date 2019/12/25 · crossref created 2019/12/26 · crossref published-print 2020/03/01 · crossref deposited 2023/09/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28 · crossref indexed 2026/07/31
BACKGROUND: This study was to investigate the lymphoscintigraphy findings for the diagnosis and severity in unilateral gynecological cancer-related lymphedema (GCRL) and to correlate lymphoscintigraphy stages with the clinical findings. METHODS: Patients with unilateral GCRL who underwent lymphoscintigraphy were staged using the presence of ileo-inguinal lymph nodes, distal-lymphatic ducts, and dermal backflow findings. Taiwan Lymphoscintigraphy Staging (TLS) was divided into three patterns and seven stages: normal drainage (L-0); partial obstruction (P-1, P-2, and P-3); and total obstruction (T4, T-5, and T-6). Correlations between clinical lymphedema severity and TLS were evaluated using analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients with unilateral GCRL were divided as follows: 6 (4.3%) in normal drainage, 56 (39.7%) in partial-obstruction, and 79 (56%) in total obstruction. Cellulitis episodes, circumferential difference, and computed tomography (CT) volumetric difference were shown to be statistically different between TLS stages (P < .001 for all). Total obstruction stages were the most significant factors associated with the severity of circumferential difference (β = 19.72, 25.54, 32.42, respectively; P < .05) and CT volumetric difference (β = 36.04, 45.12, 52.78, respectively; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Total lymphatic obstruction was present in 56% of unilateral GCGL. Lymphoscintigraphy stages were statistically correlated with episodes of cellulitis, circumferential difference and CT volumetric difference in unilateral GCRL.