'Pseudocystic' appearance of non-Hodgkin's lymphomatous nodes: An infrequent finding with high-resolution transducers

AIMS: A pseudo-cystic appearance and posterior enhancement are previously r eported to be diagnostic sonographic features of lymph node involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study was undertaken to determine whether thes e ultrasonic features remain with the use of high-resolution transducers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of ultrasound examinations in 32 patients wi th proven lymphomatous cervical lymphadenopathy (27 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, five Hodgkin's disease) was performed. A total of 95 lymph nodes were asse ssed for size, shape, posterior enhancement and internal architecture. All examinations were performed with the same high-resolution transducer and by the same sonologist. RESULTS: Lymphomatous nodes (irrespective of type) are frequently heterogen eous (68-86%), have a micronodular pattern (63-69%) and less commonly demon strate posterior enhancement (9-26%), CONCLUSION: Using a high-resolution ultrasonic transducer, cervical nodes i nvolved with lymphoma (irrespective of type) commonly demonstrate a heterog eneous micronodular pattern, The pseudocystic appearance of nodes with post erior enhancement in non-Hodgkin's nodes is seen infrequently. Ahuja, A. T. ed al. (2001). Clinical Radiology 56, 111-115. (C) 2001 The Royal College of Radiologists.