Radiology, Vol 158, 659-662, Copyright © 1986 by Radiological Society of North America
Role of chest CT in non-Hodgkin lymphoma
MB Khoury, JD Godwin, R Halvorsen, Y Hanun and CE Putman
A retrospective study of 48 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who
underwent 54 computed tomographic (CT) examinations of the chest evaluated
the role of chest CT in the management of this disease. Of 18 cases in
which chest radiographs were not indicative of NHL, CT scans showed
abnormalities consistent with NHL in five (28%). Of 11 cases where
radiographs were questionable, CT confirmed NHL in five (45%) and excluded
it in six (55%). Of 25 cases where radiographs were consistent with NHL, CT
confirmed the findings in 23 (92%) and added information in all 25. Chest
CT affected management in eight of 25 treated and five of 19 untreated
patients. It appears to be useful in untreated patients with stage I or II
NHL but no definite radiographic abnormalities, or with abnormal
radiographs but no extrathoracic spread, and in treated patients with
questionable radiographs. CT is not helpful in untreated patients with
stage III or IV NHL or treated patients with normal radiographs.
