[Clinical utility of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma].

The use of ultrasonography has been expanded in diagnostic approaches to patients with lymphadenopathy, based on advances in the device and elucidation of the characteristic features. The differential diagnosis of malignant lymphoma includes chronic inflammation (e.g., tuberculous and necrotizing lymphadenitis) and metastatic lymph nodes, each of which has characteristic ultrasonographic findings. There are distinct features between histopathological subtypes of malignant lymphoma, such as Hodgkin's vs. non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and B-cell vs. T-cell lymphomas. Based on the utility of these findings, the use of ultrasonography, which is noninvasive and easy to employ, would contribute to an efficient laboratory diagnosis, avoidance of an unnecessary and invasive biopsy, and, hence, the appropriate management of lymphadenopathy patients and diagnostic approaches.