Cross-sectional Imaging of Extranodal Involvement in Abdominopelvic Lymphoproliferative Malignancies1

• Published in: Radiographics Vol. 27; no. 6; p. 1613
• Main Authors: Nuno Pinto Leite, Norbert Kased, Robert F. Hanna, Michele A. Brown, Jose M. Pereira, Rui Cunha, Claude B. Sirlin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Radiological Society of North America 01-11-2007
• DOI: 10.1148/rg.276065170
• EISSN: 1527-1323
• ISSN: 0271-5333

Extranodal lymphoproliferative diseases are common, and their prevalence is increasing. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin
disease, in particular, frequently involve extranodal structures in the abdomen and pelvis, including both the solid organs
(liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas) and the hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Because virtually any abdominopelvic
tissue may be involved, many different imaging manifestations are possible, and lymphoproliferative diseases may mimic other
disorders. Familiarity with the imaging manifestations that are diagnostically specific for extranodal lymphoproliferative
diseases is important because imaging plays an important role in the noninvasive management of disease. However, a definitive
diagnosis requires a biopsy (of bone marrow, a lymph node, or a mass), a peripheral blood analysis, and other laboratory tests.
In patients with known disease, the goals of imaging are staging, evaluation of response to therapy, and identification of
new or recurrent disease or of complications of therapy. In patients without known disease, imaging permits a provisional
diagnosis.
© RSNA, 2007