[Ultrasonography of the whole abdomen in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the small intestine in children. Apropos of 9 cases].

: The value of ultrasonic tomography exploration of the abdomen in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the small intestine is illustrated by findings in 9 children. Performed as the initial examination for an abdominal mass (sometimes after a straight radiograph), a positive diagnosis was established by ultrasonography in all cases. Moreover, extensions of the lesion were identified in the liver in two cases, in the two kidneys in four cases, and retroperitoneal adenopathies detected in one case. Ultrasonic findings in the case of intestinal localizations were a hypoechogenic mass with a hyperechogenic zone or a gaseous acoustic shadow in its center. Kidney, liver, and retroperitoneal lesions were seen as hypoechogenic nodules. In one case, there was an increase in echogenicity of both kidneys, these being more echogenic than the liver. This atypical appearance is emphasized as it does not appear to have been reported previously in the published literature. Results of ultrasonic and conventional radiological examinations are compared, and ultrasonic differential diagnosis discussed.