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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 27:1079-1082, May 2006
© 2006 American Society of Neuroradiology

HEAD AND NECK

Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma in the Neck: CT Findings of Lymph Node Involvement

J.W. Choi^a, S.S. Kim^a,b, E.Y. Kim^a,c and M. Heran^d

^a Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
^b Department of Radiology, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
^c Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
^d Department of Radiology, Vancouver Hospital & Health Science Centre, Vancouver, Canada

Address correspondence to Sam Soo Kim, MD, Department of Radiology, Kangwon National University Hospital, 17-1 Hyoja 3-dong, Chuncheon, Kangwon-do 200-947, Korea

OBJECTIVE: To describe the CT findings of lymph nodes of the neck involved in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with pathologically proved PTCL with involvement of the lymph nodes of the neck were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively evaluated the lymph nodes on CT images with special attention to nodal necrosis, the margin, and enhancement patterns.

RESULTS: In the 27 patients studied, nodal necrosis and ill-defined margin were seen in 11 (41%) and 19 (70%), respectively. Heterogeneous enhancement of enlarged lymph nodes was noted on CT images in 19 (70%) of 27 patients. Homogeneous enhancement without ill-defined margin and/or nodal necrosis was only seen in 6 of 27 patients (22%).

CONCLUSION: Necrosis, an ill-defined margin, and heterogeneous enhancement of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck are relatively common CT features of PTCL. For patients with cervical lymph node enlargement, the presence of these findings may suggest high-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, including PTCL.