title: Clinicopathological features of retroperitoneal tumours.
abstract: The clinicopathological features of 49 neoplasms in the retroperitoneum, but not arising directly from a major retroperitoneal organ, are described. Abdominal pain and a mass, urinary tract symptoms and evidence of pressure on venous channels or nerves were common modes of presentation. In 6 cases the neoplasms were found incidentally and in 4 patients removal of the retroperitoneal mass was an elective procedure during the treatment of metastatic testicular germ cell tumour. Histopathological diagnosis revealed 4 major tumour types: germ cell neoplasms, non-germ cell metastatic carcinoma, soft tissue sarcoma and lymphoma. The differential diagnoses are discussed. A knowledge of the neoplasms to be expected in this site may indicate which pre-operative investigations should be undertaken.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis