Adult neuroblastoma: radiologic and clinicopathologic features.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the current study was to define the imaging findings of adult neuroblastoma (ANB) and correlate them with clinicopathologic features.


METHODS
The CT scans and MR images of six patients with histologically confirmed ANB (mean age, 49 years) were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The arising sites of tumors included the retroperitoneum (n = 2), pelvis (n = 2), anterior mediastinum (n = 1), and adrenal gland (n = 1). The common CT finding was poorly marginated and heterogeneous mass without calcification. Cystic components were often found. On contrast-enhanced CT or MR images, tumors showed heterogeneous enhancement. On T2-weighted images, all masses demonstrated predominantly hyper signal intensity relative to skeletal muscle and the images showed heterogeneous appearance with focal areas of high intensity interspersed with septations of low signal intensity. Soft tissue masses with bone involvement were identified in one case on MR images. The CT findings in one tumor originating from mediastinum were similar to those of tumors arising from other sites.


CONCLUSIONS
ANB is an uncommon malignancy that often pursues an aggressive clinical course, involves multiple sites, and has a poor prognosis. Tumors usually manifest on CT or MR images as a poorly demarcated mass mainly in the retroperitoneum and pelvis. Imaging studies can depict aggressive characteristics and disease extent of ANB.
Tateishi
Ukihide
U
Division of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital and Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan. utateish@ncc.go.jp
Hasegawa
Tadashi
T
Makimoto
Atsushi
A
Moriyama
Noriyuki
N
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed