title: Lymphadenopathy in primary biliary cirrhosis: CT observations.
abstract: The authors retrospectively evaluated computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained in 21 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 13 of whom subsequently underwent liver transplantation. Evidence of enlarged lymph nodes, primarily in the gastrohepatic ligament and porta hepatis, was seen on CT scans in 17 patients (81%). Lymphadenopathy also occurred in unusual sites for benign adenopathy, including the paracardiac (24%) and mesenteric (19%) lymph nodes. Surgical or autopsy confirmation of enlarged lymph nodes was made in 13 patients, and histologic analysis of the specimens revealed reactive hyperplasia, sinus hyperplasia, sinus histiocytosis, fibrosis, or normal architecture in these enlarged nodes. The authors conclude that lymphadenopathy is a frequent CT finding in primary biliary cirrhosis and that recognition can help prevent misdiagnosis of lymphoma or metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New England Medical Center Hospitals, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Outwater
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bankoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed