Imaging diagnosis of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma in childhood.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the typical appearance of retroperitoneal ganglioneuromas on CT and MRI.
MATERIALS AND 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.
CONCLUSION: 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.