[Lymphography in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Diagnostic value based on the current status of experience and knowledge].

Lymphography was carried out at least once in 355 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). In 229 patients, there was a histological subclassification: 26 LP, 63 NS, 122 NC and 18 LD cases. The lymphographic manifestations could be subdivided empirically into two superordinate groups: 1. lymph nodes closely linked together in chains (LC) with dense structures as well as LC destructions, LC debris and 2. LC of varying size with pathological internal structure. Apart from in the NS type, a correlation between the lymphological appearance and the histological subtype could not be discerned in any other histological subgroup. After lymphography, 61.6% of stages I and II were assigned to stage III. The staging of the lymphography was: stage I 24.5%, stage II 47.3%, stage III 10% and stage IV 9%, and after lymphography: stage I 9.9%, stage II 17.7%, stage III 63.1% and stage IV 9.3%. From a qualitative point of view, lymphography is superior to all other methods in the diagnosis of malignant lymphomas and should hence be carried out obligatorily in suspicion of a malignant lymphoma.