The CT findings of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the abdominal cavity of children

Objective: To evaluate CT diagnostic value of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the abdominal cavity of children. Methods: CT manifestations of 14 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the abdominal cavity of children were retrospectively analyzed. The patients included 8 boys and 6 girls, aging from 3-14 years. Ten cases were confirmed by operation and pathology, and 4 cases were confirmed by biopsy. Results: The main CT signs of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the abdominal cavity of children showed as follows: (1) 14 cases showed multiple huge irregular mass in abdominal cavity; (2) Bowel-wall thickened in 6 cases; (3) In 6 cases, enlarged mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes embodied the vessels of mesenteric and celiac trunk. This finding was so-called 'sandwich' sign; (4) Bowel demonstrated the sign of aneurysmal dilatation in 4 cases; (5) Two cases showed 'air-fluid level' sign in intestinal canal; (6) Three cases involved other adjacent abdominal organs, such as spleen in 1 case, kidney in 1 case, and liver in 1 case; (7) One case showed incomplete intestinal obstruction; (8) After contrast medium administration, the masses in 13 cases showed moderate enhancement; (9) Four cases showed ascites in abdominal cavity. Conclusion: CT is very useful for diagnosing and mapping the extension of non-Hodgkin' s lymphoma in the abdominal cavity of children