The accuracy of retroperitoneal ultrasonography in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Three hundred and thirty-six B-mode ultrasound examinations of the retroperitoneal region were performed on 179 patients with Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; histological confirmation was available in 56 patients. Ultrasonography was correct in predicting retroperitoneal periaortic lymph node involvement in 87.5% of cases. Node size was correctly predicted 98.2% of the time, and nodes 2 cm or larger in diameter were detectable. Ultrasound was more accurate than physical examination, and as accurate as gallium-67 imaging and lymphography in disease detection. The combination of ultrasound and gallium imaging gave the best accuracy of detection (97%).