Correlations between regional adipose gene expression and MRI findings in patients with upper or lower extremity lymphedema

Motivation: Lymphedema is the accumulation of interstitial fluid in soft tissues and affects approximately 140-200 million worldwide. There is currently a paucity of lymphedema studies that validate gene expression data with MR data. Goal(s): The purpose of our study was to correlate regional adipose gene expression from RNA sequencing with MR-derived features such as fat volume, fluid volume, fat fraction and total subcutaneous area. Approach: This IRB-approved retrospective study in patients with extremity lymphedema correlated MR findings from the affected and contralateral unaffected extremity with RNA sequencing. Results: Our results integrate RNA sequencing data and MR imaging analyses to differentiate lymphedema from normal tissue. Impact: Future applications will evaluate these gene expression patterns and imaging features, including radiomics, in cases of early/equivocal lymphedema to assess gene changes that correlate with duration/severity of disease to provide insight into the natural history and pathophysiology of lymphedema.