Monitoring the response of lymphoma patients to therapy: correlation of abdominal CT findings with clinical course and histologic cell type.
A review was made of 365 abdominal computed tomographic (CT) examinations in 125 patients with a histologic diagnosis of lymphoma who had undergone CT before and after therapy. Clinical correlation immediately preceding the follow-up CT examination was obtained in 100 patients. In these 100 patients, five distinct subgroups emerged: (a) reduction in extent of disease without changes in internal nodal characteristics; (b) reduction in extent of disease with change in internal nodal characteristics; (c) no change in extent of disease and no change in internal nodal characteristics; (d) no change in extent of disease but change in internal nodal characteristics; and (e) disease progression. Changes in internal nodal architecture consisted of diminished attenuation or mesenteric "stranding." A 91% correlation existed between the CT findings and the clinical course. Of those patients with a worsening clinical course, and follow-up CT studies suggesting a stable or improved response to therapy, relapse in the majority (57%) involved the central nervous system. The authors conclude that limited abdominal CT examination is satisfactory in the posttherapy follow-up of lymphoma patients.
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine