[Role of ultrasonography in the primary diagnosis of lymphomas]

To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasonography and its capabilities in evaluating the involvement of abdominal organs and peripheral lymph nodes, in analyzing the morphological subtypes in lymphomas, in choose the lymph node that is most informative for a histological study.

193 patients with lymphomas, including 85 (44%) with lymphogranulomatosis and 108 (56%) with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas who had been treated at the clinical units of the Prof. R.O. Eolyan Hematology Center, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, in 2006-2009 were examined. Their ultrasound examination was made using Aloka SSD500 apparatuses with 3.5--and 5.0 MHz convex transducers, a Medison SA6000 probe with a 7.0 MHz C3-7ED linear transducer and a 3.5 MHz HL5-9ED convex transducer, an Acuson probe with a 7.0 MHz linear transducer and a 3.5 MHz convex transducer, by applying polyposition gray-scale scanning (B mode) and real-time color Doppler flow mapping.

The patients with lymphomas were clinically characterized; data on the nature and extent of the involvements of different anatomic groups of lymph nodes, organs, and systems (spleen, liver, thyroid, etc.) are given.

B-mode ultrasonography is an essential component of a comprehensive diagnostic examination in patients with lymphomas. It is important to detect primary lesion foci and to estimate their distribution and extent in the nodal and extranodal organs and systems, mediastinum in the ultrasound diagnosis of lymphomas.