[Echotomography in the study of abdominal lymphadenopathies. Technique of examination and typical appearances (author's transl)].

Lymphographic opacification of the abdominal nodes is only partial, and it is therefore useful to have available another examination for the diagnosis of lymphadenopathies. Echography would seem to merit an important role since out of a series of 100 patients, it led to a positive and confirmed diagnosis in 78% of cases with 22% of errors, including 4% of false positives. In almost 20% of cases, echography gave additional information to that of lymphography, this justifying the simultaneous application of both examinations, either diagnostically or in the context of the surveillance of treatment. Lymphadenopathies are regularly visible from a diameter of 3 cm upwards, their structure is generally very slightly echogenic only and they may be perfectly precisely located. Problems of differential diagnosis are minimal if the technique is applied carefully, by contrast the appearance of lymphadenopathies is very similar and offers no indication as to the aetiology.