[Echographic evaluation of lymphadenopathies of the abdomen]

The US findings are reported of 91 cases of abdominal lymphadenopathy examined by either histological or instrumental check-up, or follow-up. Adenopathies were classified according to etiology, which was lymphomatous or leukemic in 19 cases, metastatic in 56, and reactive or inflammatory in 16. Lymph node involvement was most frequent in porta hepatis, periportal and peri-aortocaval locations. US findings allowed a diagnostic approach to be planned based on number, size and morphology of adenomegalies, as well as on the involved lymph nodes. In the porta hepatis and periportal areas, adenomegalies were most often due to neoplastic metastases of the alimentary canal, and to inflammatory-reactive disorders. Adenopathies in the peri-aortocaval area were most often due to systemic and to severe neoplastic metastases having their primary location even out of the alimentary canal.