[Clinical staging of malignant lymphoma]

The clinical staging of malignant lymphomas not only includes histopathological classification but also non-invasive methods for assessing the stage and prognosis. In contrast to the TNM system of staging malignant epithelial tumors, in lymphomas the size is unimportant. Comparison is made between the invasive methods of staging Hodgkin's disease and Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (splenectomy, laparotomy) and the non-invasive clinical radiological investigations (conventional X-rays, lymphography, sonography, CT, MR) and their statistical reliability. Whereas positive results in clinical staging are diagnostic, a negative result requires further correlation. A phased program for clinical staging is offered.