Complications of lymphoma in the abdomen and pelvis: clinical and imaging review

Abdom Radiol (NY). 2022 Aug;47(8):2937-2955. doi: 10.1007/s00261-022-03567-5. Epub 2022 Jun 12.

Abstract

Involvement of the abdomen and pelvis is common in lymphoma. Nodal and extranodal abdominal and pelvic lymphoma may present with various complications. Complications are most common in high-grade lymphomas, especially diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Complications may occur as the initial manifestation of lymphoma, during treatment course, or late following complete disease remission. Most complications are associated with worse prognosis and increased mortality. Imaging is essential in evaluation of disease extent and diagnosis of complications. Therefore, radiologists should be familiar with the clinical context and imaging features of abdominal and pelvic lymphoma complications. We provide a comprehensive, organ system-based approach, and clinical and imaging review of complications of abdominal and pelvic lymphoma along with radiologic images of illustrated cases of the most commonly encountered complications.

Keywords: Abdominal lymphoma; Complication; Emergency radiology; Gastrointestinal lymphoma; Lymphoma; Oncologic emergency.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdomen / pathology
  • Abdominal Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*
  • Pelvis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pelvis / pathology
  • Prognosis