The Correlation of General Imaging Features with the Pathology in Extranodal Lymphoma

Objective To explore the imaging features of extranodal lymphoma and evaluate its diagnostic value.Materials and Methods 54 extranodal non-Hodgkin's and 3 extranodal Hodgkin's lymphoma of 57 patients confirmed by surgery and pathology without the history of intranodal lymphoma before surgery had the examination of conventional radiography,CT scan and MR imaging.The acquired images data were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively in comparison with surgical and pathological results.Results The locations of 57 extranodal lymphomas included digestive canal(14),bone(9),kidney(5),brain(7),lung(4),spleen(4),adrenal gland(4),liver(3),muscle(3),pancreas(2),testis(1),vagina(1),respectively.6 of 22 cases underwent routine radiography,17 of 39 cases underwent CT scan and 12 of 19 cases underwent MR scan were diagnosed correctly,41 of 47 lesions underwent CT scan were homogeneous density and 6 of which presented heterogeneous density,17 of 26 lesion underwent MR appeared uniform hypo or isointensity signal.47 cases except brain lymphoma presented low to middle degree dynamic delayed enhanced.Extranodal lymphoma usually remained intrinsic anatomic structures.Conclusion General imaging features of extranodal lymphoma include well-circumscribed solid masses with slightly hyperintensity signal on MR T2-weighted images and low to middle degree dynamic delayed enhanced in which intrinsic anatomic structures are remained.It is important for the radiologist to recognize the typical appearance of extranodal lymphoma to improve diagnostic accuracy.