Assessment of gastrointestinal lymphoma by abdominal computed tomography

ABSTRACT

To clear up the role of abdominal computed tomography [CT] as a non invasive technique in evaluation of the extent of intra abdominal disease in lymphoma patients and to determine its role in staging of gastrointestinal lymphoma. Eighty patients, already having lymphoma were selected in our study and referred from oncology, surgery and internal medicine department to radiology department from the period of June 1999 to June 2001. All patients underwent full clinical examination, laboratory investigation, routine chest X-ray, abdominal sonography and abdominal computed tomographic examination. Twenty patients [25 percent] were HD and the other sixty patients [75 percent] were NHL. Fourty eight were males [60 percent] and thirty-two were females [40 percent]. The patients age ranged from 5 years to 60 years in HD group and between 2 years to 60 years in NHL. From our study we found that CT is well tolerated, non invasive technique to detect the hidden lymph nodes, that are not routinely visualized by other modalities for example, retrocrural lymph nodes [40 percent in HD and 20 percent in NHD L] mesenteric L.Ns, splenic, renal and hepatic hilum lymph nodes as well as infiltration of the intestinal wall and adjacent structures. From our study we clarified that abdominal CT is a simple non invasive investigation, should be used routinely for staging, planning of therapy and follow up of lymphoma patients