Abstract
The objective of this study was primarily to determine the incidence of the cisterna
chyli (CC) on computed tomography (CT). Its radiologic characteristics were also evaluated.
Retrospective review of 403 randomly chosen CT cases was made. All patients received
intravenous contrast. Note was made of incidence, location, size, attenuation values,
slice thickness, age, sex, and the presence or absence of malignancy or adenopathy.
There were seven cases of demonstrated CC (1.7%). It was variably located at the L2
to T11 levels; average attenuation was 4 H and average size was 7.4 mm AP by 7.0 mm
in transverse diameter with rounded to elliptical shape. Average length of CC was
1.5 mm. Malignant primary was present in four of the seven cases, and none of the
seven had adenopathy. There were three males and four females; average age of the
CC group was 55.5 years. Visualization of the CC on CT is not rare (1.7%); as previously
reported, it should be distinguished from retrocrural adenopathy by its low water
attenuation, anatomic continuity with the thoracic duct, tubular nature, and lack
of intravenous contrast enhancement.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Received:
June 18,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
