Value of lymphangiography in the staging of Hodgkin lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of lymphangiography in the staging of Hodgkin disease.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively evaluated the lymphangiograms of 39 previously untreated patients with Hodgkin disease (clinical stage, 1-2A). The patients had no evidence of bulky mediastinal nodal disease, and results of abdominal and pelvic computed tomographic examination were negative for parenchymal organ disease and retroperitoneal and mesenteric node involvement. The studies were officially interpreted as normal or abnormal. No attempt was made to differentiate benign reactive changes from tumor infiltration. All patients underwent confirmatory staging laparotomy.


RESULTS
Of the 39 patients, 29 had normal lymphangiograms. All 29 had normal lymph nodes at laparotomy. Of the 10 patients with abnormal lymphangiograms, only two had malignant infiltration of lymph nodes at laparotomy. The other eight showed benign reactive hyperplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphangiography has no place in the management of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Libson
E
E
Department of Radiology, Haddassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Polliack
A
A
Bloom
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008220:Lymphography; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed