CT-Pathologic Correlations in Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Abstract

In order to assess its potential uses in the staging and treatment planning of lymphoma, CT was performed in 27 newly diagnosed, previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; 18 staging laparotomies provided pathologic correlations. CT detected and defined disease in areas not well evaluated by conventional techniques (high para-aortic, mesenteric, splenic hilar nodes). CT interpretation of splenic size and weight correlated well with splenic weight confirmed at pathology. Nodules were identified in several spleens containing foci of lymphoma.

The Complete Spleen

“…Computed tomography Alcorn et al (1977) 16 0.78 Redman et al (1977) 22 0.50 0.80 Breiman et al (1978) 16 0.90 1.00 0.94 Frick et al (1981) 18 0.75 1.00 0.89 Castellino et al (1984) 121 0.33 0.76 0.58 Strijk et al (1985) 35 0.57 1.00 0.77 Ultrasound Glees et al (1977) 20 0.77 0.72 0.75 Frick et al (1981) 22 0.35 0.82 0.68 King et al (1985) 22 0.60 0.88 0.82 Radionuclide scan ( 99m Tc_su Hur colloid) Alcorn et al (1977) 15 0.66 Glees et al (1977) 19 image is seen in its usual location, and definite uptake is noted elsewhere in the abdomen or pelvis (Waldman and Suissa, 1978).…”

“…Several are summarized in Table 8, and are compared to a similar assessment for ultrasound and radionuclide scanning (Frick et a!., 1981;Alcorn et a!., 1977;Redman et a!., 1977;Breiman et a!., 1978;Castellino et a!., 1984;Strijk et a!., 1985).…”

The Spleen in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

“…Computed tomography (CT) made it possible to delineate the size of the spleen more exactly, but most published series showed a poor correlation between CT of the spleen and histology. Overall accuracy rates varying from 60 to 100 per cent, with a sensitivity of 0 to 100 per cent and a specificity of 80 to 100 per cent have been reported (l , 2,4,6,7,15,16,18,19). These results may be explained partially by the use of different and obviously insensitive criteria.…”