THE PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF LYMPHADENOPATHY IN PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS

We present the results of a retrospective review of abdominal computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance examinations of 12 pat ients with primary biliary cirrhosis undertaken to determine the preva lence and clinical significance of previously reported coexistent intr a-abdominal lymphadenopathy in patients with this disorder. Lymphadeno pathy, in the form of bulky periportal and retroperitoneal nodes, was identified in a single patient secondary to an occult metastatic adeno carcinoma. We conclude that coexistent intra-abdominal lympadenopathy occurring in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis is uncommon, Alth ough it may represent a benign component of the primary disease, it ma y equally be due to unsuspected coexistent occult malignancy.