[Computerized tomography in the evaluation of the state of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes]

The authors consider the potentialities of computerized tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of lesions of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes in their metastatic involvement and hemoblastoses. CT data on 142 patients with hemoblastoses and tumors of different sites are discussed. This type of examination made it possible to reveal the involvement of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes in 59 patients resulting in the diagnosis of the generalization of the underlying disease in 41.5% of the cases. CT makes it possible to correctly interpret the state of practically all groups of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Besides, CT gives an opportunity to detect lymph node enlargement in the negative results of lymphography or to reveal lesions of some groups of the lymph nodes which are inaccessible to contrast examination, all of these being of great importance for the planning of radiation or surgical treatment. CT provides an opportunity for a dynamic control over therapeutic results both in hospitals and in polyclinics. The results of the examination were of importance in each case for the choice of the tactics and method of specific therapy as well as for prognosis of a subsequent source of the underlying disease.