Correlation of diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph nodes between lymphangiography and computed tomography of abdomen

Three participating institutions of Saitama Cancer Center, Chiba Cancer Center and Jikei University School of Medicine studied about on accuracy of lymphangiography (LG) and computed tomography (CT) of abdomen in patients with malignant lymphoma with particular attention to the retroperitoneal area between January 1982 and April 1984. Eighty-five procedures of LG and CT of abdomen among 81 patients were performed. Each procedure was done within one month and patients who were though to be not influenced by cancer chemotherapy were selected. Both modalities were in full agreement in 67 cases (78.8%). Forty-seven cases were diagnosed as having a negative retroperitoneum and pelvis by both modalities, whereas 15 cases were called positive by both studies. Five patients were interpreted as equivocal by both CT and LG. Interpretations differed in 18 cases (21.2%). Of these, three patients had positive LG, but CT demonstrated negative findings. In conclusion, as far as a diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph nodes is concerned, CT of abdomen was considered to replace the lymphangiography. (author)