Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
January 2016 Issue Vol. 5(1), pp. 020-028
Copyright © 2016 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Abdominal Lymph Nodes: Detection and Significances on Computerized Tomography

Mohammed Idriss Amer¹ and Caroline Edward Ayad²*

¹Radiology Department, Asser Central Hospital, Saudi Arabia, Saudi
²College of Medical Radiological Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan

Corresponding Author E-mail: carolineayad@yahoo.com; Telephone: 0922044764

Accepted 21 January, 2016

Abstract

With the introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), evaluation of lymph nodes is now possible. The objectives of our study dealt with firstly: how are the sizes of lymph nodes distributed, which lymph nodes are affected, do the size distributions between cases differ. Secondly investigated a hypothesized association between lymph node size and outcome. 150 CT scans were reviewed for patients in whom the MDCT scan revealed abdominal abnormality. Patients with a documented history of cancer or any illness known to cause lymphadenopathy were included. 78(52%) were males and 72(48%) were females ranging in age from ≤30to ≥70 years, with a mean age of 52.05±18.26years. In accordance with our departmental protocol for imaging the abdominal cases, the patients were administered the oral and intravenous contrast material. The lymph node size was evaluated and measured in the short-axis diameter in (mm). We recorded the lymph nodes locations distribution as well as sites (the abdominal quadrant from 1-9) and correlated with the nodal size. The study showed that the most common causes of abdomen lymphadenopathy are neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious processes. The size of the enlarged lymph nodes ranged between ≥6mm and ≥25mmwith no significant relation was detected with the CT outcomes. Lymph node sites were: common iliac, gastro duodenal ligament lymph nodes, iliac, inguinal, internal iliac, mesenteric, para aortic, paracaval, periaortic, pericolic, periportal, perirectal, porta hepatis, and spleen with the highest distribution in mesenteric and para aortic regions. The distribution of the lymph nodes indicates the exact nature of the underlying disease process and CT outcomes significantly at p˂0.000. By granted the short axis measurement for lymph nodes using MDCT, their use in response assessment will be better associated with clinical radiology practice

Keyword: lymph nodes, computerized tomography, lymph node metastasis; inflammation