[Pseudolymphomatous aspects of mesenteric lymphadenopathies in Whipple's disease. Value of x-ray computed tomography monitoring].

Lymphadenopathy is a very common finding during the course of Whipple's disease (W.D.). Abdominal (mesenteric and retroperitoneal) tumoral lymphnodes may mimick malignant neoplasm, specially a lymphoma. The authors report the case of a patient who had an abdominal computer-assisted tomography (C.T.) at the diagnosis and during an eleven month survey for W.D. General C.T. findings can help to differenciate mesenteric lymphadenopathy in W.D. from those found in malignant lymphomas: low density (10-20 Hounsfield Units) because of the high fatty charge of Whipple's lymphnodes, lymphadenopathy in the lower mediastinum, progressive but slow improvement with antibiotic therapy.