[Malignant lymphomas with thoracic localization. Problems of semeiology and radiological staging]

A series of 234 malignant lymphomas (121 Hodgkin lymphomas and 113 non-Hodgkin lymphomas) observed at the Brescia City Hospital between 1981 and 1987 has been reviewed. This paper is aimed at assessing: 1) in which sectors of the staging radiology is indicated; 2) which radiological techniques are needed for the staging of chest lymphomas; 3) which impact they have on the therapeutic program. All patients underwent chest X-ray, which was integrated by conventional tomography in 80% of cases. Only 76 patients underwent CT: 35 times for staging, and 69 times for restaging (overall figure: 104). The two techniques were compared: in untreated patients CT gave supplementary information in 19 out of 35 cases (54.3%). In 7 patients (20%) the findings were such as to determine a change in the previous staging; only in a case (2.8%) was the management affected; in treated patients CT proved to be superior to conventional radiology in 28 out of 69 cases (40.56%) and allowed the possibility of a recurrence (which was suggested by clinical and radiological findings) to be ruled out in 23 patients (33.3%). In our opinion, CT should not be used as a routine investigation in the staging of malignant thoracic lymphomas; on the contrary, it should be limited to selected cases, when a radical radiotherapy is to be performed, or when clinics and plain radiographs proved unable to assess the nature of a pathologic thoracic condition.