Lymphography in Sarcoidosis.

Abstract

Abdominal lymphography was performed in 30 patients, 12 males and 18 females, with sarcoidosis. The diagnosis of disease was in every case histological, after mediastinal biopsy in 16 cases and after biopsy of lymph nodes in various sites in 14 cases. Mediastino-pulmonary involvement of varying degree was present in 23 patients. Lymphography revealed involvement of the inguinoretroperitoneal lymph nodes in 18 cases, bilateral in 15 of them. Lymphographic diagnosis of sarcoidosis is fairly arduous because the pattern elicited is very similar to that of lymphomas. The pathological findings were graded into 4 groups. No correlation between lymphographic pattern and duration and extent of the disease was demonstrated. In 5 patients with pathological lymphography lymph node biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The routine use of lymphography in patients with sarcoidosis is not to be racommended because the demonstration of extensive lymph node involvement does not affect the treatment in any way.