OPPORTUNITIES OF MULTISPIRAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF RETROPERITONEAL SARCOMA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

The goal of this work was the assessment of capability for multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the diagnostics of retroperitoneal tumors in children. We studied the results of multidetector computed tomography of 63 sick children (36 boys (58 %) and 27girls (42 %)) between the ages of 1 month to 16 years, from 2012 to 2015. The average age of the patients was 4.9 ± 4.5 years, with a predominance of boys (2: 1.4). Among retroperitoneal tumors in children most often we found neuroblastoma (50.8 %): in 38.1 % it was detected in boys, in 12.7 % - in girls (p < 0.05). Nephroblastoma was detected in 10 %, the other retroperitoneal tumors accounted for 40 %. In 56 % neuroblastoma was located at the upper level of retroperitoneal space. In 44 % tumors localized in para-aortic area, in paravertebral space or in the pelvis. Neuroblastomas on MDCT scans were presented by heterogeneous formations, unevenly accumulating contrast. In 62 % of cases we detected calcifications, in 19 % we observed cysts and in 56 % of cases there were metastatic involvements detected. Thus, the MDCT is a method able to accurately specify the localization of the tumor, to clarify the character and volume of destruction, to determine the exact size of a tumor and its relationship with the surrounding tissues, as well as to reveal metastatic lesions in the abdominal cavity and in other organs.