[Magnetic resonance imaging of benign and premalignant tumors in childhood].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential of MRI in determining benign and premalignant abdominal tumors in childhood.


METHODS
MR images of 93 children with 69 malignant and 24 benign abdominal tumors were analyzed retrospectively without and with knowledge of clinical findings. Based on the final diagnosis, MR findings were surveyed with regard to the correct differential diagnosis and to the differentiation between benign and malignant masses.


RESULTS
Analysis of MRI alone revealed relatively low sensitivity of 67% for diagnosis of a benign tumor. The main reason was unspecific morphologic criteria leading to the false-negative diagnosis of a malignant tumor. Together with clinical and laboratory findings, sensitivity could be increased to 92%. The main criterion for differentiation of malignant tumors turned to be out the origin of tumor. Benign tumors could be best differentiated by their internal structure.


CONCLUSIONS
When considering clinical findings in pediatric abdominal tumors, MRI represents a valuable modality for differential diagnosis.
Pfluger
T
T
Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik im Klinikum Innenstadt der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Leinsinger
G
G
Sander
A
A
Schmid
I
I
Führer
M
M
Dietz
H G
HG
Tiling
R
R
Rossmüller
B
B
Hahn
K
K
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis