title: Pitfalls in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal adenopathy.
abstract: From an experience of approximately 4 000 body computed tomographic scans we identified 14 patients in whom non-nodal structures mimicked the appearance of retroperitoneal adenopathy; six of the patients are discussed in detail. Causes of a wrong diagnosis include varices, normal veins, aneurysms, localized hemorrhage, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and bowel adhesions. More common causes such as non-opacified bowel are not included. We emphasize ways to avoid these infrequent, though often clinically important, diagnostic pitfalls.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed