[Lymphographic demonstration of lymphnode fibrosis in Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)]

In 9 of 450 patients with Hodgkin's disease the fibrosis of retroperitoneal lymphnodes has been diagnosed by lymphangiographys. 5 cases with fibrosis were assigned to the clinical stage III B, and 4 cases to the stage IV B. According to the microscopic subclassification nodular sclerosis was diagnosed 7 times, the mixed type and lymphocytic depletion were found in 1 case. Lymphnode fibrosis developed spontaneously in 1 case, in three other patients following cytostatic treatment and in 5 patients after combination of radiation and chemotherapy. It has been concluded from these results that lymphnode fibrosis is induced mostly by therapy. Spontaneous fibrosis is a rare event in Hodgkin's disease.