A case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia

Korean J Intern Med. 1993 Jan;8(1):51-5. doi: 10.3904/kjim.1993.8.1.51.

Abstract

A 26-year-old male patient who had an 8 years history of recurrent peripheral edema with diarrhea and hypoproteinemia was evaluated. Endoscopic jejunal and ileal biopsy revealed markedly dilated mucosal lymph vessels with no evidence of inflammation. 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin (HSA) scintigraphy showed significant activity accumulating in the gastrointestinal tract to represent 99mTc-HSA leakage into the bowel lumen. A diagnosis of protein losing enteropathy and intestinal lymphangiectasia could be made. After treatment with a high protein and fat restricted diet, his symptoms subsided and the serum protein level was normalized.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
  • Humans
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal / diagnosis*
  • Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin

Substances

  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin