Detection of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma liver disease in cirrhotic patients

Computer tomography (CT) scan and ultrasound scan (US) are the preferred methods for staging subdiaphragmatic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL),1 but their sensitivity in detecting focal lesions in the liver may be reduced if fibrosis is present. We investigated 6 NHL patients who also had a viral liver disease (chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis) by US and CT liver scans and liver biopsy. US was performed using a Spazio-Hitachi instrument with a 3.5 MHz probe. With the exception of two patients, who underwent laparotomy as a diagnostic procedure, liver biopsy was performed under US guidance using a Menghini fine needle with automatic aspiration (1.2 mm in diameter x 150 mm in length), or a Chiba fine needle (0.7 mm x 150 mm).