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This paper reports a case of rare secondary lymphedema with pretibial myxedema, which was diagnosed as secondary lymphedema of both lower extremities by completing a comprehensive examination of the lymphatic system. After partial resection and biopsy were performed on the tumor of the left lower leg, it was initially diagnosed as a fibromyxoid tumor (intermediate type), more likely superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor with myxodegeneration. As the tumor of the left lower leg was rare, after consulting the opinions of some domestic hospitals, and combined with the medical history and hormone treatment effect, our final diagnosis was left anterior tibial myxedema. After more than 10 months of external treatment with halometasone ointment, all nodules became flat, leaving light brown pigmentation spots. This article discusses the differential diagnosis of this disease, with the aim to enhance clinical doctors' understanding of the disease.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with primary chylothorax who failed in the treatment of thoracic duct ligation (TDL). Methods This study was a retrospective analysis. The subjects were patients with primary chylothorax who had failed in TDL treatment in other hospitals and were admitted to the Department of Lymphatic Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University from May 2007 to October 2021. The clinical features and results of direct lymphangiography (combined with CT imaging data after lymphangiography) after admission were summarized. Results A total of 38 patients with primary chylothorax who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. After TDL treatment, 50.0%(19/38) patients had increased drainage of pleural effusion and 36.8% (14/38) patients developed new symptoms. The results of direct lymphangiography showed that the ligation of the thoracic duct was relatively complete in all patients. The patients generally had different degrees of lymphatic reflux disorder, and manifested lymphatic dilatation (94.7%, 36/38) and different forms of lymphatic reflux (92.1%, 35/38). Conclusions In this study, the leaking point of primary chylothorax may be located between the cisterna chylior its branching lymphatic vessels and the ligation point. The failure of TDL treatment may be related to the aggravation of the existing lymphatic reflux disorder caused by TDL. Lymphangiography before TDL is recommended for patients with primary chylothorax to guide the formulation of treatment.

Secondary lymphoedema is one of the common complications after lymph node dissection for gynecologic malignancies and breast cancer. In this study, the relationship between PLA2 and postoperative lymphoedema in cancer at the molecular level has been explored through transcriptomics and metabolomic assays. Transcriptome sequencing technology, as well as metabolomic assays, were utilized to explore the expression of PLA2 in lymphoedema patients, and search for potential pathways in the pathogenesis and exacerbation mechanism of lymphoedema. The effect of sPLA2 on human lymphatic endothelial cells was investigated by culturing human lymphatic endothelial cells. Secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) showed high expression levels in lymphoedema tissues, however, cytoplasmic phospholipases A2 (cPLA2), showed low expression in lymphoedema, as demonstrated by RT-qPCR. By culturing human lymphatic vascular endothelial cells, the study found that sPLA2 causes HLEC vacuolization and has an inhibitory effect on HLEC proliferation and migration. By detecting sPLA2 in the serum of lymphoedema patients and analyzing clinical data, it was found that sPLA2 was positively correlated with the severity of lymphoedema. Secretory Phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is highly expressed in lymphoedema tissue, damages lymphatic vessel endothelial cells, is strongly associated with disease severity, and can be used as a potential predictor of disease severity. Abbreviations : PLA2: Phospholipase A2; DEGs: differentially expressed genes; DMP: differential metabolic production.

Objective: In this work, we studied the clinical effect of liposuction followed by lymphovenous anastomosis (LVAs) for the treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL)., Methods: We analyzed 158 patients with unilateral upper limb BCRL who underwent liposuction followed by LVAs 2-4 months later. Arm circumferences before and 7 days after the combined treatments were prospectively recorded. Circumferences of different upper extremities were measured before the procedure, 7 days after LVAs, and during the follow-ups. Volumes were calculated with the frustum method. During the follow-ups, the conditions of patients' treated arms, i.e., the frequency of erysipelas episodes and dependence on compression garments, were recorded., Results: The mean circumference difference between two upper limbs decreased significantly from M (P25, P75) of 5.3 (4.1, 6.9) preoperatively to 0.5 (-0.8, 1.0) ( P  < 0.05) 7 days after treatments, while at follow-up 0.3 (-0.4, 1.0). The mean volume difference decreased significantly from M (P25, P75) of 838.3 (662.4, 1,129.0) preoperatively to 7.8 (-120.3, 151.4) ( P  < 0.05) 7 days after treatments, while at follow-up 43.7 (-59.4, 161.1). The incidence of erysipelas also significantly decreased ( P  < 0.05). 6.3% of patients were already independent of compression garments during the past six months or even more., Conclusion: Liposuction followed by LVAs is an effective method for the treatment of BCRL., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Chang, Xia, Liang, Sun, Xin and Shen.)

Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the clinical value of diagnostic lymphangiography followed by sequential CT examinations in patients with idiopathic chyluria., Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients with idiopathic chyluria underwent unipedal diagnostic lymphangiography and then underwent sequential CT examinations. The examinations were reviewed separately by two radiologists. Abnormal distribution of contrast medium, lymphourinary leakages, and retrograde flow were noted, and the range and distribution of lymphatic vessel lesions were recorded. The stage of idiopathic chyluria based on CT findings and the stage based on clinical findings were compared. Therapeutic management and follow-up were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed., Results: Compared with CT studies performed after lymphangiography, diagnostic lymphangiography showed a unique capability to depict lymphourinary leakages in three patients. Lymphourinary fistulas and abnormal dilated lymphatic vessels were found in and around kidney in all patients. CT depicted retrograde flow of lymph fluid in 47.2% of patients. The consistency in staging chyluria based on CT findings and clinical findings was fair (κ = 0.455). Twenty-nine patients underwent conservative therapy, and seven underwent surgery. Surgical therapy was superior to conservative management (no recurrence, 85.7% of patients who underwent surgery vs 62.1% of patients who underwent conservative therapy; p = 0.025)., Conclusion: From assessing the drainage of contrast medium on unipedal diagnostic lymphangiography and the redistribution of contrast medium on sequential CT examinations, it is possible to detect the existence of lymphourinary fistulas, the precise location of lymphatic anomalies, the distribution of collateral lymphatic vessels, and hydrodynamic pressure abnormality in the lymph circulation in patients with idiopathic chyluria. CT staging of chyluria provides additional information that can be used to guide therapeutic management.