LYMPHOSCINTIGRAPHY PATTERNS IN NEWBORNS AND CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL LYMPHATIC DYSPLASIA

Abstract

We performed lymphoscintigraphy on 31patients (newborns and children) affected bycongenital lymphatic dysplasia according toour previously published protocol. Congenitallymphatic dysplasia may present with variousdegrees of clinical severity, ranging fromnonimmune hydrops fetalis with visceraleffusions to lymphedema alone. We recommendthat lymphoscintigraphy should be stronglyconsidered in all patients with signs oflymphatic dysplasia, including those withminimal and initial signs of lymphaticimpairment, in order to obtain a very earlydiagnosis and to start treatment. Lymphoscintigraphyis safe and useful in the diagnosis oflymphatic dysplasia in the newborn andchildren. Moreover, it is well tolerated bypatients and well accepted by their parents.