Peritoneal lymphomatosis: CT findings

Abstract

Patterns of tumor involvement of mesentery, omentum, and peritoneum seen in peritoneal lymphomatosis are indistinguishable from those seen in peritoneal carcinomatosis or tuberculous peritonitis. However, ascites without any loculation or septation and diffuse distribution of enlarged lymph nodes were helpful signs of peritoneal lymphomatosis.

Secondary Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions of the Peritoneal Cavity: Imaging Features with Pathologic Correlation

“…Other CT features include ascites, peritoneal enhancement and thickening, omental caking, infiltration of the small bowel mesentery, and fine nodularity in the mesenteric and omental fat (43,44). The presence of extensive adenopathy in lymph node chains typically involved with lymphoma, such as those in the retrocrural region and small bowel mesentery, may suggest lymphomatosis over carcinomatosis.…”

Greater and Lesser Omenta: Normal Anatomy and Pathologic Processes

“…Diagnosis of peritoneal lymphomatosis with CT is difficult because it closely mimics peritoneal carcinomatosis and tuberculous peritonitis. However, ascites without any loculation or septations and a diffuse distribution of enlarged lymph nodes are promising prognosticators (16). Retroperitoneal and mesenteric lymphadenopathy is demonstrable, and the enlarged lymph nodes appear as homogeneous attenuation or central low attenuation with peripheral rim enhancement (Fig 7).…”

Color Doppler Ultrasonographic Flow Parameters in the Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Causes of Omental Thickening

“…13 Secondary neoplastic involvement of the peritoneum is generally termed as peritoneal carcinomatosis, usually from cancers of ovary, stomach, colon, pancreas, breast, uterus, and urinary bladder, and rarely from non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia. 14,15 Nonneoplastic involvement of the peritoneum includes tuberculosis, infiltrating fibromatosis, inflammatory diseases of the mesentery such as sclerosing mesenteritis, and rarely extramedullary hematopoiesis. 15,16 Radiological findings of peritoneal carcinomatosis include ascites and enhancement of the thickened peritoneum on contrast-enhanced CT scans due to diffuse implantation of tumor nodules along the peritoneal surface.…”