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Cisterna chyli

Case contributed by Bruno Di Muzio
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Finding in a patient with chronic abdominal pain.

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Female

MRI abdomen

mri

A small saccular area of fluid signal at the L1–L2 level of the vertebral body, in the retrocrural space and immediate right of the abdominal aorta. On the third sequence (Axial T2 fat-sat) is possible to see that this saccular area receives the two lumbar lymphatic trunks, right and left. 

This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

Case Discussion

The cisterna chyli is a saccular area of dilatation in the lymphatic channels that originates at the level of the L1/2 vertebral body and extend 5-7 cm in the caudocephalic direction. It is located in the retrocrural space, usually to the immediate right of the abdominal aorta.

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