[Lymphoma infiltration of the liver: spectrum of ultrasound characteristics in 47 patients]

Abstract

Between 1980 and 1993, 680 patients with malignant lymphoma were referred for abdominal sonography as a part of initial staging. In 53 patients intrahepatic abnormalities suspected for lymphoma involvement were detected. 6 of these had metastases of lung cancer (n = 4) or microabscesses (n = 2). Sonographic findings of 47 patients with hepatic lymphoma were reviewed. Hepatic lymphoma was confirmed by histologic examination (n = 23) and sonographic/clinical follow-up (n = 24). 12 patients had Hodgkin's disease, 18 high-grade NHL, and 17 low-grade NHL. Lesions were hypoechoic in all cases. Five different sonographic patterns were found: small nodular lesions (n = 28; 60%), large nodular lesions (n = 14; 30%), bulky disease (n = 2; 4%) and diffuse involvement (n = 2; 4%). One patient (2%) had lymphomatous involvement which surrounded the portal vessels. High-grade NHL preferred patterns of large nodular or bulky diseases (9 of 17 patients). Small lesions were found to be more typical in low-grade NHL (13 of 18 patients), and Hodgkin's disease (9 of 12 patients).