Evaluation of abdominal lymph nodes by ultrasound

To evaluate the significance of sonographically detected abdominal lymph nodes, the medical records of 100 consecutive patients with abdominal lymphadenopathy were reviewed. The number of lymph nodes, their localizations, dimensions, shape, and architecture were recorded. One hundred ninety-four lymph nodes were found in 63 patients known to have a malignancy; 68 lymph nodes were found in 37 patients with benign diseases. The localization, size, shape, and architecture of all lymph nodes were evaluated. Of the different variables we studied in the evaluation of the abdominal lymph nodes, echogenicity, shape, age of the patient, and a periaortic localization are helpful in the differentiation between benign and malignant involvement. There remains a considerable overlap; in these cases fine-needle aspiration biopsy is the method of choice to establish the diagnosis.