Ultrasound and lymphography in malignant lymphoma. Comparison with consideration to staging

The diagnostic value of abdominal ultrasound and lymphography was compared in the staging of 88 consecutive patients with malignant lymphoma, examined during the period March 1990 to April 1991. Lymphography was used as the reference method in the evaluation of the paraaortic and iliac lymphnodes. In 19% of the patients ultrasound examination could not be accomplished optimally, and these results were evaluated in a separate group. Lymphography demonstrated involvement of retroperitoneal lymphnodes in 27 patients, among these ultrasound was false negative in seven (= 26%). In ten patients ultrasound examination demonstrated lymphoma outside the lymphographic area. No false positive ultrasound examinations were found in the group with negative lymphography. Ultrasound cannot replace lymphography, but is an important supplement, and in those cases where ultrasound reveals lymphomas in the lymphographic area, lymphography can be omitted as ultrasound has a high predictive value.