Comparative studies of retroperitoneal lymph scintigraphy

The diagnostic value of retroperitoneal lymph scintigraphy in the framework of tumor staging was studied based on the scintigraphic findings of 393 patients, in particular in comparison to lymphography (60 patients), sonography (74), and computed tomography (95), as well as to the clinical course and histology (74). The sensitivity of scintigraphy was comparable to that of lymphography (83%), computed tomography lay with 66% clearly lower and sonography proved itself disappointing (33%). In a comparison of the specificity of the examination methods computed tomography lay at the peak, followed by sonography, scintigraphy and lymphography. The exactness of the scintigraphic procedure was troubled with a large portion of questionalbe findings (43%). This portion could be clearly reduced by progress controls and was only true for the clinically or histologically controlled group of patients. Lymph scintigraphy is only suited, despite its high exactness, as a screening procedure for the clarification of retroperitoneal lymph gland diseases, is, however, recommended for use in the framework of the basic examination and further support of the other procedures and especially for the course observation. (TRV)