[Possibilities of diagnosing lymphoma with MR-tomography--comparison with other imaging technics]

A retrospective study of 57 patients was made to assess the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for demonstrating malignant lymph node disease in comparison with other imaging modalities. All patients were suspected of having lymphadenopathy in cervical, mediastinal or abdominal lymph nodes. MRI was superior in differentiating tumor involved lymph nodes from surrounding structures. On the other hand this advantage was curtailed by the spatial resolution, poorer than CT. In comparison with ultrasound MRI is the better reproducible modality and is independent of patients' constitution. Additionally MRI gives a completer overview, including retrocrural and pelvic lymph nodes. In conclusion the useful routine of ultrasonography first, completed by CT will not be changed by MRI. MRI as an additional modality is only indicated to differentiate enlarged lymph nodes from vascular structures or muscles.