Magnetic resonance imaging as a new method to diagnose protein losing enteropathy

Lymphology. 2008 Sep

Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

The main cause of protein losing enteropathy (PLE) in children is intestinal lymphangiectasia. PLE is commonly diagnosed with radiotracer scintigraphy. We report the use of magnetic resonant imaging in diagnosis of a child with primary PLE. MRI clearly revealed abnormality in intestine and mesentery and dilated thoracic duct and mesenteric lymphatic as well as prominent subcutaneous lymphatics in the extremity. We conclude that MRI is a useful tool in diagnose of primary PLE.

PMID: 19013878 [PubMed - in process]