[Sonography in the diagnosis of lymphogranulomatosis].

Abstract

With a rate of 87.7% of exact diagnoses, sonography is a proven method to find intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal manifestations of malignant system diseases. It is not stressing or invasive and can be frequently repeated; needing less expenditure and involving no risks, it can bear comparison with lymphographic methods and is important in the classification of stages of lymphatic system diseases. During one examination, enlarged organs and infiltrations in form of focuses in the parenchymatous organs can be diagnosed, and vessels and formations of lymphomas can be seen within their topographic connection. Independently from their drainage ways, all enlarged lymph nodes, also those situated in areas not accessible by lymphography like the hilus of liver, spleen, kidney, and retrohepatic, mesenteric, and intraperitoneal regions, can be visualized even without administration of a contrast medium. The method offers the possibility of frequent control examinations during radiotherapy or chemotherapy; possible recurrences can be early detected. However, manifestations of a malignant system disease in the lymph nodes can be hardly discerned from metastases of a primary tumor localized in another region. Despite this disadvantage, sonography keeps the first rank in the gradual application of image-producing diagnostic methods (sonography, CT, lymphography).