Whole body CT features of lymph nodes involved in malignant lymphoma / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate CT feature after contrast-enhanced and anatomic distribute of the whole body lymph nodes involved by lymphoma. Methods The whole body CT findings in 89 cases (HL 12 cases, NHL 77 cases) of malignant lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed. The contrast-enhanced CT features (size, density and the digree of contrast enhancement) and anatomic distribution of the whole body lymph nodes involved by lymphoma were clarified. Results In the HL group, Diffuse and homogeneous enhancement of the enlarged lymph nodes was found in 9 cases (75.0 %), while homogeneous enhancement of the enlarged lymph nodes with some little necrosis was found in 3 cases (25.0 %). In the NHL group, diffuse and homogeneous enhancement of the enlarged lymph nodes was found in 64 cases (83.1 %), while homogeneous enhancement of the enlarged lymph nodes with some little necrosis was found in 13 cases (16.9 %). There was not statistically significant (Fisher exact probability, P = 0.4461) between the two groups. In the HL group, the enlarged lymph nodes were mixed together in 6 cases (50.0 %), while the enlarged lymph nodes were separate in 6 cases (50.0 %). In the NHL group, the enlarged lymph nodes were mixed together in 8 cases (10.4 %), while the enlarged lymph nodes were separate in 69 cases (89.6 %), there was statistically significant (Fisher exact probability, P = 0.0028). The dominant anatomic distributions of the lymph nodes involved by HL group were neck and mediastinum. The dominant anatomic distributions of the lymph nodes involved by NHL group were neck, mediastinum and abdomen, there was not statistically significant between the anatomic distributions (Fisher exact probability, P =0.110). Conclusion CT can easily demonstrate the involvement and extension of malignant involving the whole body, but CT can not differentiate HL and NHL except for the confluence state.