Purpose of review: The incidence of lymphatic leakage (iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic) is growing in cancer population due to the increased complexity of the surgical procedures and improved overall survival in cancer patients. The purpose of this article is to review the contemporary approach in the field of percutaneous lymphatic embolization in cancer patients with lymphatic leaks.
Recent findings: Since the advent of intranodal lymphangiography in 2011 alongside with the MR and CT lymphangiography, the accuracy of diagnosis of the lymphatic diseases has significantly improved significantly. These advancements have triggered a revival of minimally invasive lymphatic interventions. Lymphatic embolization is expanding from the classic indication, thoracic duct embolization, to other lymphatic disorders (chylous ascites, lymphoceles, liver lymphorrhea, protein-losing enteropathy). The growth of lymphatic research and the standardization of the lymphatic interventions require a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach between physicians and researchers.
Keywords: Cancer patients; Chyle leak; Chylothorax; Chylous ascites; Embolization; Interventional Radiology; Intranodal lymphangiography; Lymphangiogram; Lymphatic embolization; Lymphocele; MR lymphangiography.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.