Investigation of Lipedema, Lymphedema and Vascular Malformations by Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT)

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL GOETTINGEN · May 1, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This is an observational study at University Hospital Göttingen in Germany that uses a new imaging method called MSOT (multispectral optoacoustic tomography) to look at the fat under the skin in adults with lipedema, lymphedema, or vascular malformations. MSOT is non-invasive and uses light and sound (not x-rays) to visualize fat tissue, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels. The goal is to describe how the subcutaneous fat is structured in these conditions and to compare patterns between people with and without fat-tissue changes, to improve understanding and future imaging.

About 100 adult women (ages 18–80) are hoped to enroll. Key inclusion clues include tenderness in the calf or back of the knee or outer thigh, a tendency to develop swelling, and uneven fat distribution that hasn’t improved with usual treatments. Exclusions are being under 18 or over 80, pregnancy, or not willing to participate. Each participant will have one MSOT scan of the skin, typically taking up to about 20 minutes total (the actual imaging is around 5 minutes), with safety measures in place. There is no radiation or injections, and data are kept confidential. You can withdraw at any time, and participation is by invitation, with an anticipated study end in 2028.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Typical tenderness in the calf, back of the knee or lateral thigh
• • Tendency to hematoma in areas affected by edema
• • Typical inspection disorder of fatty tissue distribution with dent formation, asymmetry in lateral comparison and increased circumference
• • Tendency to edema throughout the day with typical feeling of pressure/pain
• • Unsuccessful conservative therapy attempts and weight loss attempts.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age \<18 or \>80
• • pregnancy and breastfeeding
• • Lack of voluntary consent