Imaging diagnosis of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma in childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the typical appearance of retroperitoneal ganglioneuromas on CT and MRI.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of diagnostic imaging (five CT scans, three MRI scans) in five children aged 3-15 years with the histological diagnosis of ganglioneuroma.


RESULTS
The scans showed large (maximum 11 cm diameter), round or oval tumours with sharply defined margins. Intraspinal tumour involvement occurred in two cases. Comparing CTwith MRI, MRI was more accurate in defining the intraspinal involvement. The ganglioneuromas were hypodense on unenhanced CT and showed moderate enhancement with administration of contrast medium. In three patients, CT demonstrated tumour calcification with a disseminated speckled pattern. On T1-weighted MRI the tumours were homogeneous and hypointense, showing marked enhancement after gadolinium administration. On T2-weighted scans the tumours were hyperintense.


CONCLUSIONS
At the time of diagnosis, retroperitoneal ganglioneuromas are generally large tumours that can be shown well by CT and MRI. The appearance on CT more readily suggests the diagnosis, but MRI is superior for documenting local or intraspinal tumour extension and lacks radiation load.
Scherer
A
A
Institute for Diagnostic Radiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. scherera@uni-duesseldorf.de
Niehues
T
T
Engelbrecht
V
V
Mödder
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media