Limitations of the post-lymphangiogram plain abdominal radiograph as an indicator of recurrent lymphoma: comparison to computed tomography.

A comparison was made between post-lymphangiogram abdominal radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans in 18 lymphoma patients. When radiographs were obtained more than one year after the original lymphangiogram, only a small percentage of the patients had adequate contrast medium remaining in the lymph nodes for a definitive diagnosis. In three cases with apparently adequate residual contrast material, the radiograph did not provide accurate information on the presence or extent of recurrent lymphoma. The authors conclude that CT is the preferred method for the initial staging of patients with lymphoma, as well as for follow-up studies after one year.