MR Lymphangiography in cancer-related lymphoedema
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Magnetic Resonance Lymphangiography (MRL) in patients with cancer-related lymphoedema
IRAS ID
146168
Contact name
Peter Mortimer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling of the upper or lower limbs due to a malfunction of the lymphatic system. Lymphoedema which is developed in the arms as a consequence of breast cancer treatment continues to be one of the most common and distressing conditions in patients following breast surgery, and yet the reason why it develops in approximately 20% of women (and men) remains uncertain.
There is much still to discover about the mechanisms leading to cancer related lymphoedema, but this is dependent on the ability to produce informative images of the lymphatic vessels. Current techniques require either the repeated use of radiation or dedicated equipment, and are therefore available only in specialized centres. This project aims to create a Magnetic Resonance examination which can produce images of the lymphatic vessels without using radiation, in order to understand better what happens to lymphatic drainage in the limbs of cancer patients affected by lymphoedema.
A Magnetic Resonance scan is performed after injecting a non-radioactive contrast agent, which then enters the lymphatic vessels and follows the drainage. This research will develop methods to produce detailed 3D images of superficial and deep lymphatic vessels together with a measurement of the speed of lymphatic drainage.
Unfortunately there is no cure for cancer-related lymphoedema, but in some cases improved control of the swelling can be achieved with surgical procedures such as liposuction or reconstructive microsurgery. In this research the methods developed will be used to assess how a group of lymphoedema patients treated at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust respond to reconstructive microsurgery.
By understanding the mechanism whereby lymphoedema develops, and by assessing how treated patients respond, treatments can be better tailored and targeted, and the disease and the patients better managed.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2124
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion