Magnetic resonance lymphangiography

Magnetic resonance lymphangiography (MRL) is an imaging technique used to visualize and map the lymphatic vessels. The technique is used for treatment planning in supermicrosurgical procedures, including lymphaticovenous anastomosis, lymphaticolymphatic bypass and vascularized lymph node transfers.

The technique requires an MRI with a field strength of 1.5 T or greater and access to a multielement coil. Both phased-array peripheral vascular coils and body array coils are reported to provide good signal-to-noise ratios . A 0.1 mmol/kg body weight dose mixture of gadobenate dimeglumine and 1% lidocaine is injected intradermally or subcutaneously in the region of interest. The patient is subsequently imaged using a 3D fast spoiled gradient-echo T1-weighted sequence with a fat-saturation technique to facilitate visualization of the lymphatics. Subtraction of a precontrast study from a post-contrast study has also been reportedin literature as a method to increase the apparent contrast in the examination .