gastrointestinal disorders
Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
Diagnosis of Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
Endoscopic small-bowel biopsy Sometimes contrast lymphangiography Diagnosis of intestinal lymphangiectasia usually requires endoscopic small-bowel biopsy, which shows marked dilation and ectasia of the mucosal and submucosal lymphatic vessels at the tips of the villi. Alternatively, contrast lymphangiography (injection of contrast material via the pedal lymphatics) can show abnormal intestinal lymphatics. Laboratory abnormalities include lymphocytopenia and low levels of serumalbumin, cholesterol, IgA, IgM, IgG, transferrin, and ceruloplasmin. Barium studies may show thickened, nodular mucosal folds that resemble stacked coins. D-xylose absorption is normal. Intestinal protein loss can be shown by usingchromium-51–labeledalbumin. 