title: Computed tomography of the retroperitoneum in patients with femoral neuropathy.
abstract: The authors illustrate the value of computed tomography (CT) of the retroperitoneum in patients presenting with femoral nerve signs. They describe 28 such patients, examined at a tertiary-care hospital between June 1990 and January 1993, in whom CT of the retroperitoneum contributed significantly to the diagnosis. The patients, 19 males and 9 females, ranged in age from 11 to 81 years. CT showed disease of the psoas compartment in 17 cases; the condition was due to a malignant lesion in 9 cases and was secondary to infection in 5 and to other causes in 3. Disease of the iliacus compartment was shown in 11 cases; it was due to a malignant lesion in 6 cases and was secondary to hemorrhage in 2, to infection in 1 and to a bursa in 1. The diagnostic features of the diseases encountered are discussed, and the importance of performing CT early is stressed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiological Sciences, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eustace
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Byrne
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Breatnach
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed