Non-Contrast MR Lymphography and Intranodal Dynamic Contrast MR Lymphangiography in Children with Congenital Heart Disease—Imaging Findings as well as Impact on Patient Management and Outcome

Lymphatic flow disorders are rare but devastating complications in children with congenital heart disease. T2-weighted magnetic resonance lymphography and intranodal dynamic contrast magnetic resonance lymphangiography are imaging modalities that can depict central lymphatic anatomy and flow pattern. Our objective was to describe the technical aspects and our imaging findings of central lymphatic abnormalities and their impact on patient management and outcomes: We conducted a retrospective review of 26 children with congenital heart disease who presented for lymphatic imaging between 2015 and 2020 at our institution. Eleven had postoperative chylothorax, six had plastic bronchitis, seven had protein-losing enteropathy and three had Noonan syndrome. Our lymphatic imaging demonstrated severely abnormal lymphatic flow in all of the children, but only minor abnormalities in protein-losing enteropathy. No major procedure-related complication occurred. Lymphatic interventions were performed in six patients, thoracic duct decompression in two patients and chylothorax revision in three patients. This led to symptomatic improvements in all of the patients: Lymphatic imaging is safe and essential for the diagnosis of lymphatic flow disorders and therapy planning. Our intranodal lymphangiography depicts an abnormal lymphatic flow pattern from the central lymphatics but failed to demonstrate an abnormal lymphatic flow in protein-losing enteropathy. These imaging techniques are the basis for selective lymphatic interventions, which are promising to treat lymphatic flow disorders.