Computed tomography of gastrointestinal lymphoma

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Abdominal lymphoma can involve the gastrointestinal tract.
• Computed tomography (CT) is a key imaging modality for abdominal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of CT in diagnosing gastrointestinal lymphoma.
• To correlate CT findings with barium studies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 275 CT examinations with positive abdominal lymphoma findings.
• Analysis of 26 patients with confirmed gastrointestinal lymphoma involvement.
• Comparison of CT findings with barium studies.

Main Results:

• Gastrointestinal lymphoma was identified in 26 of 275 patients (9.5%).
• The stomach was the most frequently involved site, followed by the small bowel, colon, and duodenum.
• CT accurately detected wall thickening, perforation, and fistulization.
• Two false-negative cases showed small submucosal gastric deposits ('bull's-eye' lesions).
• Two false-positive cases were attributed to hypertrophic gastritis.

Conclusions:

• CT is a valuable tool for detecting gastrointestinal lymphoma and its complications.
• Radiologists should be aware of potential pitfalls, including "bull's-eye" lesions and hypertrophic gastritis.
• CT findings should be correlated with clinical and barium study data for accurate diagnosis.