Percutaneous management of lymphocoeles following pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical carcinoma

Eighteen patients with 26 pelvic lymphocoeles following radical hysterectomy underwent percutaneous therapeutic intervention with either needle aspiration, or catheter drainage. In eight patients a percutaneous needle aspiration under sonographic control was performed. Five out of eight patients were successfully managed with needle aspiration, three of them requiring repetitive aspirations. Thirteen patients, with a total of 21 lymphocoeles underwent catheter drainage. Seventeen of the 21 lymphocoeles completely resolved. Redrainage was performed in four cases and it was successful in two of them. The duration of the catheter drainage was 8 to 34 days. Nine of the lymphocoeles were infected at initial drainage. Two patients underwent surgery because of increased volume of output. Percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective method and should be considered as the initial treatment for all patients with postoperative lymphocoeles.