Diffuse Pulmonary Lymphangiomatosis: MDCT Findings After Direct Lymphangiography

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the findings of MDCT performed after direct lymphangiography in patients with diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients (13 male and 10 female patients) diagnosed with diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis on the basis of clinical features and findings from imaging, bronchoscopy, and pathologic analysis were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent pulmonary MDCT after direct lymphangiography, surgical operation or open lung biopsy, and histopathologic examination. MDCT images were analyzed by two experienced radiologists independently. RESULTS: MDCT after direct lymphangiography revealed numerous intrathoracic abnormalities, including abnormal distribution of contrast medium, dilatation of lymphatic channels, mediastinal soft-tissue infiltration, and peribronchovascular thickening. Nineteen patients had interlobular septal thickening, 18 had diffuse ground-glass opacities, 22 had pleural effusion, 14 had extrapleural soft-tissue thickening, 20 had pericardial effusion and thickened pericardium, 10 had multiple lymphadenopathy in mediastinum, and five had mediastinal, pericardial, and thoracic aeroceles. CONCLUSION: MDCT performed after direct lymphangiography is well suited to clarify the characteristics of intrathoracic disorders and is an excellent tool in the diagnosis of diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis.