The role of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy in chyluria.

The objective of this study was to study the characteristics of chyluria on radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy and evaluate the diagnostic value of radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy in chyluria. In this report radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 41 cases of chyluria patients and the imaging results were retrospectively analyzed. Among 41 cases, 30 of them were caused by filariasis, 4 cases were secondary chyluria from abdomen surgery and 7 cases were caused by lymphangiitis. Sixteen cases were proved as bilateral chyluria and 25 cases as unilateral chyluria by cystoscopy. The most common pattern of chyluria in radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy is that kidney or pelvis was imaged in the early phase of dynamic acquisition. In conclusion, radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy is a useful noninvasive method for detecting the origin site of chyluria, and for providing reliable information to perform safe operation.