Displaced paraspinal line: role of CT and lymphography

Demonstration of involvement of lower mediastinal paravertebral nodes in lymphomatous or metastatic disease may alter the mode of treatment or localization of fields for radiotherapy. Displacement of paraspinal lines in a posteroanterior chest radiograph may indicate such adenopathy. In 20 selected cases in which computed tomography and/or lymphography were performed, 13 of 16 lymphograms and 11 of 11 CT scans helped confirm a paraspinal mass, suggesting adenopathy. Paraspinal line displacement, CT criteria of adenopathy, and the greater sensitivity of CT in the paraspinal area are discussed.