Usefulness of lymphography in childhood neoplasia.

Abstract

From 1967 to 1970, 94 children ranging in age from 15 months to 15 years underwent lower limb lymphography with Lipiodol Ultra Fluide. While 63.8% of patients had either Hodgkin's disease (31 cases) or lymphoreticular sarcomas (29 cases), 36.2% of the children had different types of solid tumors (32 cases). In almost every patient, the procedure was performed bilaterally and without difficulty. There were no significant side effects. Lymphograms were positive in 45.9% of the cases; some of the cases were controlled with surgery. The importance of lymphography in also determining the clinical stage in children with malignant lymphoma is emphasized. In solid tumors, the number of our patients is not yet sufficient to draw definite conclusions. However, positive lymphograms were observed in 10 of 11 patients with neuroblastoma, in 3 of 4 with rhabdomyosarcoma, and in 2 of 3 with Ewing's sarcoma. The possibility that the initial spread of these diseases could also occur through the lymphatic pathway is discussed.