Leukemias involving abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes: evaluation with contrast-enhanced MDCT.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify features of lymph nodes associated with leukemia purposing to offer help for imaging diagnosis and differential diagnosis of leukemia.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 47 patients with clinically proven leukemia involving the abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes. Of these 47 patients, 10 had acute myeloid leukemia, 9 had acute lymphocytic leukemia, and 28 had chronic lymphocytic leukemia. MDCT was used to determine lymph node features such as morphology, growth patterns, size, enhancement patterns, anatomical distribution, and manifestations in extramedullary organs.


RESULTS
Incidence of leukemia was higher in men than in women. Enlarged lymph nodes were more frequently conglomerated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (96.4%) than in acute myeloid leukemia (50%) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (55.6%; P < 0.05 for both). Lymph nodes associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were larger than those associated with acute myeloid and lymphocytic leukemias (P < 0.05 for both). The enlarged lymph nodes appeared homogeneous (80.9%) and homogeneous mixed with peripheral (19.1%). No statistically significant differences were observed between the three types of leukemias with respect to enhancement patterns (all P > 0.05). The lymph nodes commonly associated with these three leukemias were located in the lesser omentum, upper and lower para-aortic regions, and groin region.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that contrast-enhanced MDCT could accurately determine the enhancement patterns and anatomical distribution of lymph nodes associated with leukemia. Therefore, it is helpful for imaging diagnosis and differential diagnosis of leukemia.
Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 GuoXue Street, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Ge
G
Zhang
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Yang
Jiao
J
Bai
Yuan
Y
Li
Hua-Yan
HY
Xu
Qi-Hua
QH
Long
D000005:Abdomen; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D007938:Leukemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol