Diagnosis of Retroperitoneal Tumours using Computed TomographyA Cross-sectional Study

• Main Authors: Umamaheshwari K Basavaraju, Narasipur Lingaiah Rajendrakumar, P Sanjay, Nanjaraj Chakenalli Puttaraj, Prathibha P Shivadas, ­Mahesh Seetharam, Rashmi K Nagaraju, Supraja Moorthy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2021-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Anatomy Radiology and Surgery
• Subjects: adrenal metastases; beak sign; lymph nodal metastases; lymphoma; neuroblastoma; renal cell carcinoma
• Online Access: http://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/2598/44895_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(Ss_KM)_PFA(SHU_Ss)_PN(SHU).pdf
• ISSN: 2277-8543; 2455-6874

Introduction: Retroperitoneum is one of the largest and complex anatomical spaces in the body where, even before the clinical presentation, the tumours often grow silently to large sizes. Therefore, an early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Among the various imaging modalities, Computed Tomography (CT) is the preferred imaging technique for the evaluation of retroperitoneal tumours. It plays an important role in determining the epicenter of tumour, size, tumour composition, extent, vascularity and effects on adjacent structures, and thus aids in treatment planning. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate various CT imaging findings of retroperitoneal tumours and to associate it with histopathological findings. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done at Department of Radiology in the tertiary care hospital for a duration of 12 months from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019. The study included 30 patients. Each patient was subjected to plain and contrast enhanced CT to characterise the retroperitoneal tumour. The results were tabulated and evaluated descriptively by Microsoft Excel 2016 and presented in figures, tables, frequency graphs and pie charts. Results: Out of 30 patients, 17 (56.6%) were males and 13 (43.3%) were females. Most commonly affected age group was seventh decade, followed by sixth decade. Histopathology confirmed the radiologic diagnosis in 26 cases. A total of 80% of the lesions were malignant and 20% were benign. Primary retroperitoneal tumours were the most common tumours (11 cases) accounting for 36.6% of cases. Among primary retroperitoneal tumours, lymphoma (four cases) was the most common tumour followed by lymph nodal metastases (three cases). Other four tumours were liposarcoma, extra-adrenal neuroblastoma, paraganglioma and lymphangioma. Majority of the tumours were solid (29 cases) and only one case was cystic. Heterogeneous enhancement was the most common pattern of enhancement which was seen in 23 cases. Infiltration of adjacent organ was seen in five cases, vascular encasement in seven cases and distant metastasis in six cases. Conclusion: The collective evaluation of various CT imaging findings of retroperitoneal tumours which includes the epicentre of lesion, tumour composition (solid, cystic, fat, calcification, necrosis), enhancement pattern, size, effect on adjacent organs (displacement or infiltration), vascular encasement and distant metastasis helps to arrive at an accurate radiologic diagnosis and thus guides in therapeutic planning.