The diagnostic accuracy of lymphography in Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)

Between 1972 and 1975, exploratory laparotomies were carried out on 52 otherwise untreated patients with histologically verified Hodgkin's disease in stages I, II and III following lymphography. 84% of patients with negative lymphograms had histologically normal lymph nodes. 16% of negative lymphograms were shown to have to have histologically positive lymph nodes. Two out of eight patients diagnosed as positive on lymphography (25%) proved to be false positives caused by extensive lymph node involution. The diagnostic accuracy lymphography was therefore 83%. Surgical exploration was of value only in histologically positive cases. Post-operative control by means of lymphanigiography is essential for the evaluation of the course of Hodgkin's disease.