Hodgkin lymphoma patients with bulky lymph nodes estimated by power Doppler ultrasound scanning

09-22-2006

Power Doppler ultrasound (US) scanning could be used to estimate bulky lymph nodes in Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

According to a study from Italy, "The accuracy of standard methods in estimating bulky lesions requires validation. We used clinical/computed tomography (CT) evaluation and power Doppler US to detect bulky disease in 137 consecutive Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, and analyzed the prognostic relevance of each method."

"Bulky disease was detected by clinical/CT evaluation in 47% of the patients and by power Doppler US in 20%. After treatment, at multivariate analysis power Doppler US-selected bulky disease was the parameter that best correlated with freedom from treatment failure (p<.001)," explained M. Picardi and colleagues, Federico II University Medical School.

The researchers concluded, "Power Doppler US, a readily available imaging technique, provides a better prognostic classification by detecting true bulky disease more accurately."

Picardi and colleagues published the results of their research in Haematologica - the Hematology Journal (Estimation of bulky lymph nodes by power Doppler ultrasound scanning in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma: a prospective study. Haematologica, 2006;91(7):960-963).

For additional information, contact B. Rotoli, Federico II University Medical School, Department of Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology, Naples, Italy.

The publisher of the Haematologica - the Hematology Journal can be contacted at: Ferrata Storti Foundation, Strada Nuova 134, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

Keywords: Naples, Italy, Bulky Disease, Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Hematology, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Oncology, Power Doppler Ultrasound Scan, Prognosis, Prognostics.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.