Abstract #2475

Magnetic resonance lymphangiography in breast cancer related lymphoedema shows differences between affected and unaffected arms

Marco Borri¹, Maria A. Schmidt¹, Julie C. Hughes¹, Erica D. Scurr¹, Kristiana D. Gordon^2,3, Peter S. Mortimer^2,3, Dow-Mu Koh¹, and Martin O. Leach¹

¹CR-UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom, ²Cardiac and Vascular Sciences, St. George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom, ³Skin Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

The pathophysiology of breast cancer related lymphoedema (BCRL) is not well understood, one of the main limiting factors being a lack of information on lymphatic collecting vessels. We have recently proposed a novel contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography protocol which allows the identification of lymphatics via the use of associated contrast uptake curves. In this work we have quantified differences between affected and unaffected arms in a cohort of patients with unilateral BCRL. Our analysis did not detect significant differences in vessel counts between the two sides within different sections of the forearm. However, there was a statistically significant difference in vessel diameter between the two arms; lymphatics within the affected arms presented with a larger diameter.

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