IMAGING AND COMPARTMENTAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID PELVIC TUMORS IN CHILDREN

Thirty-five children aged from 1 day to 16 years (median 5 years) with solid pelvic tumours were investigated with US, CT and MR. All three methods gave similar estimates of tumour size. For defining location o f the tumours, the pelvis was divided into three midline compartments (anterior, middle and posterior) and a right and left lateral compartm ent. CT and MR were accurate and equally reliable in determining the t umour location, US was less accurate. Evaluation of confinement to org an of origin was uncertain, regardless of imaging modality. Tissue cha racteristics with CT and MR did not contribute to the differentiation of the various tumour types, and contrast medium enhancement did not i mprove the discrimination. Compartmental localization was equally well assessed by CT and MR and, together with sex, was found to correlate with the tumour type.