CT findings in peripheral T-cell lymphoma involving the gastrointestinal tract.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether computed tomography (CT) accurately depicted gastrointestinal tract involvement in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).


METHODS
CT scans were retrospectively reviewed in 14 patients with pathologically proved PTCLs of the gastrointestinal tract for the following considerations: sites, patterns of involvement (ie, morphologic features, bowel wall thickness or mass size, and contrast enhancement pattern), and ancillary findings at other sites (ie, lymphadenopathy, bowel perforation, and involvement of other organs).


RESULTS
PTCL involved the stomach in three patients, the small intestine in eight, both the stomach and the small intestine in one, and the sigmoid colon in two; multifocal involvement was seen in three (21%) patients. CT failed to demonstrate the bowel lesions in three of 14 patients. At CT, 11 patients had gastric or bowel wall thickening (n = 10) and a polypoid mass (n = 1). In 10 patients, the gastric or bowel wall thickening was mild (<1 cm) in six, moderate (1-2 cm) in three, and severe (>2 cm) in one. Lymphadenopathy was noted in nine (64%) patients, with the nonbulky type in eight and the bulky type in one. Bowel perforation occurred in four (29%) patients. Other organs were involved in eight (57%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
CT can depict PTCL involving the gastrointestinal tract if it is not confined to the mucosa. There is a tendency toward preferential jejunal or duodenal involvement, as well as bowel perforation.
Byun
Jae Ho
JH
Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Poongnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.
Ha
Hyun Kwon
HK
Kim
Ah Young
AY
Kim
Tae Kyoung
TK
Ko
Eun Young
EY
Lee
Jeong Kyong
JK
Yu
Eun-Sil
ES
Myung
Seung-Jae
SJ
Yang
Suk-kyun
SK
Jung
Hwoon-Yong
HY
Kim
Jin Ho
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed