Lymphoma Lymphoma can also present as a focal, dense consolidation on the chest roentgenogram. When the lymphoma is Hodgkin's disease, there may be multiple contiguous areas of tumor involvement that grow and merge, resulting in a dense infiltrate with irregular borders. Hilar and mediastinal adenopathy are nearly always present. Pleural effusions occur in as many as 30 percent of patients. Biopsy of associated cervical nodes or of the bone marrow is helpful in some cases.
Treatment is systemic.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presents somewhat differently. The chest roentgenogram may show a dense infiltrate with regular margins, similar to the infiltrate seen in bacterial pneumonia or alveolar cell carcinoma. Mediastinal and hilar node involvement may be absent. However, several other noninfectious and nonneoplastic disorders typically present as a focal pulmonary infiltrate. The clinical history is very important in making a diagnosis because these disorders occur in specific clinical settings.