[Conventional diagnosis of lymphadenopathies--value of conventional roentgen examination and supplementation of other imaging technics].

The introduction of new imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and sonography, has not lessened the importance of conventional roentgen examinations of the chest as routine and screening procedures for detecting mediastinal lymph node disease. Precise understanding of the normal and pathologic anatomy of the mediastinum in conventional films is required for an early and adequate use of computed tomography and eventually abdominal ultrasonography as additional examinations. Only by this the involvement of mediastinal nodes by malignant lymphomas or metastases can be detected, proved and treated early. Chest films still are of greatest value for follow-up studies in both evident and suspected malignant thoracic lymph node disease.