Lymphography as a guide during laparotomy in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Lymphography of 123 newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma was followed by staging laparotomy without intra-operative abdominal roentgenography. These patients were retrospectively evaluated for residual abnormal nodes with postoperative abdominal roentgenography. Sixteen patients with pathologically normal nodes at laparotomy had residual lymphographically abnormal nodes at postoperative roentgenography. Nine patients received less extensive irradiation than they would have if the remaining abnormal nodes had been biopsied and found to contain tumor. Two had shortened survivals as an apparent consequence.