Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 9, Issue 6 325-331, Copyright © 1990 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Evaluation of abdominal lymph nodes by ultrasound
A. J. Smeets, H. M. Zonderland, F. van der Voorde and J. S. Lameris
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
To evaluate the significance of sonographically detected abdominal lymph
nodes, the medical records of 100 consecutive patients with abdominal
lymphadenopathy were reviewed. The number of lymph nodes, their
localizations, dimensions, shape, and architecture were recorded. One
hundred ninety-four lymph nodes were found in 63 patients known to have a
malignancy; 68 lymph nodes were found in 37 patients with benign diseases.
The localization, size, shape, and architecture of all lymph nodes were
evaluated. Of the different variables we studied in the evaluation of the
abdominal lymph nodes, echogenicity, shape, age of the patient, and a
periaortic localization are helpful in the differentiation between benign
and malignant involvement. There remains a considerable overlap; in these
cases fine-needle aspiration biopsy is the method of choice to establish
the diagnosis.
