Imaging of abdominal neuroblastoma in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were: 1) to assess the efficacy of different imaging methods for use prior to treatment; 2) to compare the surgico-histopathologically-based International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) staging with the imaging results; and 3) to suggest a localisation scheme for abdominal neuroblastoma.


METHODS
Thirty-one children with an abdominal neuroblastoma (median age 2 years), underwent abdominal US, CT of chest and abdomen, MR imaging of abdomen and spine, chest radiography, skeletal survey, radionuclide bone scintigraphy, MIBG scintigraphy, and bone marrow biopsy.


RESULTS
In the evaluation of local disease, CT and MR were superior to US. There was no significant difference between CT and MR in assessment of the location or size of the tumour. Evaluation of invasive growth and lymphadenopathy was uncertain irrespective of imaging modality. Intraspinal extension was more distinctly demonstrated with MR. Tissue characterization with CT and MR did not contribute in the assessment of the tumours. Contrast enhancement at CT and MR examinations both improved demarcation between tumour and kidney, and was a necessity for evaluation of vessel encasement with CT. The local disease was best assessed by either CT or MR, while metastatic disease was best revealed by CT, MR, scintigraphy or bone marrow biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Imaging may be a valuable basis for clinical assessment and pretreatment staging of abdominal neuroblastoma.
Hugosson
C
C
Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nyman
R
R
Jorulf
H
H
McDonald
P
P
Rifai
A
A
Kofide
A
A
Jacobsson
B
B
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine