Marco Borri1, Maria A. Schmidt1, Julie C. Hughes1, Erica D. Scurr1, Kristiana D. Gordon2,3, Peter S. Mortimer2,3, 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.
