Imaging diagnosis of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma in childhood

Purpose. To demonstrate the typical appearance of retroperitoneal ganglione uromas on CT and MRI. Materials and methods. Retrospective analysis of diagnostic imaging (five C T scans, three MRI scans) in five children aged 3-15 years with the histolo gical diagnosis of ganglioneuroma. Results. The scans showed large (maximum If cm diameter), round or oval tum ours with sharply defined margins. Intraspinal tumour involvement occurred in two cases. Comparing CT with MRI, MRI was more accurate in defining the intraspinal involvement. The ganglioneuromas were hypodense on unenhanced C T and showed moder-ate enhancement with administration of contrast medium. In three patients, CT demonstrated tumour calcification with a disseminated speckled pattern. On TI-weighted MRI the tumours were homogeneous and hypo intense, showing marked enhancement after gadolinium administration. On T2- weighted scans the tumours were hyperintense. Conclusion. At the time of diagnosis, retroperitoneal ganglioneuromas are g enerally large tumours that can be shown well by CT and MRI. The appearance on CT more readily suggests the diagnosis, but MRT is superior for documen ting local or intraspinal tumour extension and lacks radiation load.