[Reappraisement of lymphangiography in Hodgkin's disease. Comparison with 109 primary staging laparatomies (author's transl)].

Accuracy of lymphangiography was estimated in 109 patients with Hodgkin's disease by comparing its results with those of primary staging laparotomy. Accurate lymphangiographic diagnosis was achieved in 90% of involved and 85% of non-involved para-aortic lymph nodes, respectively. 11 of 12 false-positive cases were due to over-interpretation of lymph nodes exhibiting no enlargement but showing filling defects. Involvement without enlargement of lymph nodes appears to be a rare, even in young patients. Although staging laparotomy is of advantage, particularly when other methods fail to give reliable results, lymphangiography is still a valuable method for staging of Hodgkin's disease.