[Tumors of the adrenal gland and lumbar sympathetic chain. Differential ultrasound diagnosis in childhood].

In a retrospective study from 1979 to 1989 17 tumors of the sympathic chain and the adrenal gland were analysed according to typical sonographic patterns. 13 tumors (10 neuroblastomas, 2 pheochromocytomas, 1 adenoma of the adrenal gland) were localized within the abdomen, 4 tumors (3 neuroblastomas, 1 ganglioneuroma) originated from the mediastinum. Neuroblastomas usually were great suprarenal masses with bad delineation and inhomogenous increased echogenicity in comparison with the liver. In more than 50% calcifications occurred, whereas cysts (15%) could rarely be found. The upper pole of the ipsilateral kidney usually was compressed and displaced caudally and laterally. The great intraabdominal vessels were usually displaced anteriorly and to the opposite side. The disturbed flow within the compressed intraabdominal vessels could reliably be shown by colour Doppler sonography as well as tumor vascularity. The 2 pheochromocytomas as well as the ganglioneuroma and the adenoma of the adrenal gland were round or oval, well delineated nodules with homogeneous liver like echogenicity. According to their typical sonographic patterns tumors of adrenal gland and sympathic chain can be differentiated from each other as well as from kidney tumors.