Avaliação linfocintilográfica dos linfedemas dos membros inferiores. Correlação com achados clínicos em 34 pacientes Lymphoscintigraphic evaluation of lower limb lymphedema. Correlation with clinical findings in 34 patients

Objective: To correlate the location of clinical alterations of patients with lymphedema with lymphoscintigraphic findings. Method: Thirty-four patients with lower limb lymphedema were assessed at the Service of Lymphology at the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. The lymphoscintigraphic images were acquired at 20 minutes and 3 hours and analyzed according to the following parameters: lymphatic vessels, dermal backflow, collateral circulation, popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes. Results were correlated with the location of the edema in the limb: group A (without edema), group B (foot), group C (ankle), group D (leg), and group E (thigh). Result: Most lymphoscintigraphic images presented abnormalities in lymphatic vessels and inguinal lymph nodes, and few alterations concerning the other parameters. Of the 34 patients, 12 had clinically unilateral lymphedema. Of these, 11 had bilateral lymphoscintigraphic alterations. Conclusion: The location of the lymphedema at physical examination did not corresponded, in most cases, to the lymphoscintigraphic alterations. In all groups, the lymphoscintigraphic alterations occurred in the leg and thigh. The physical examination of the limb may be normal, even though the lymphoscintigraphy could be abnormal.