The Cisterna Chyli in Gastrointestinal Malignancy Patients: Incidence and Finding in CT

To evaluate the incidence and volume of the cisterna chyli of gastrointestinal malignancy patients by CT. Contrast enhanced abdominal CT images of gastrointestinal malignancies from 1,421 patients were evaluated. The prevalence of cisterna chyli according to origin of primary tumor was recorded, and the volume of identifiable cisterna chyli was calculated. The average volumes were then compared by the ANOVA method. The cisterna chyli was found in 352 patients (25.1%). Of these, the incidences by location were hepatocelluar carcinoma, 33.6% (n = 82), biliary carcinoma, 24.6% (n = 42), colon cancer 24.1% (n = 84), pancreatic cancer, 23.6% (n = 17), and gastric cancer, 22.4% (n = 127). The average volume of cisterna chyli was 387 μL, which was calculated from the averages by location as follows: biliary carcinoma 567 μL, colon cancer 536 μL, hepatocellular carcinoma 360 μL, gastric cancer 275 μL, and pancreas cancer 178 μL. No significant difference was found among primary tumors. Knowing the characteristics of the cisterna chyli is important for differentiating them from metastatic lymph nodes. The cisterna chyli of gastrointestinal malignancies was most commonly found in hepatocellular carcinoma cases. Further, no statistical difference among the volumes of the cisterna chyli or the origin of the primary tumors.