LYMPHEDEMA EVALUATION BASED ON COMPUTERED TOMOGRAPHY DATA

Abstract

Lymphedema is a common disease, it is estimated that up to 10% of the population has it in varying degrees. Thus different methods are using in evaluating patients with lymphedema. Computed tomography allows to assess the condition and thickness of various layers of soft tissues, edema spread along the length of the limb and deeper spaces, objectify degree of edema and fibrotic changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, to obtain quantitative data of tissue density at any level and level of the limb. Comparison of clinical stage and CT data is not fully studied question. We examined 24 patients, made physical examination and lower limb MSCT. It was found that with an increase of the degree of edema increases limb volume, thickness of subcutaneous fat, increases the X-ray density of subcutaneous adipose tissue due to its edema and fibrosis. Thus, the use of MSCT saves physician's time for examination of patients with lymphedema and allows him to select the optimal treatment strategy.