MRI in Pediatric Oncology, Abdominal Tumors: Diffusion

A spectrum of findings on computed tomography in paediatric abdominal and pelvic tumours in a Ghanaian teaching hospital

Objectives

To review the Computed Tomography( CT )features of pediatric oncological patients with abdominal and pelvic tumours and correlate these findings with their histopathological diagnosis.

Design

This was a retrospective cross-sectional facility-based study.

Setting

This study was conducted in the Pediatric Oncology Unit and Radiology Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Participants

Fifty-six pediatric oncology patients with contrast-enhanced abdominal and pelvic CT scans.

Data Collection

The abdominal and pelvic CT scans findings, patient biodata, and histopathology reports of oncology patients over four years were reviewed.

Statistical analysis

Simple descriptive statistics using frequency distribution, percentages, means, and standard deviation were used to describe the various variables and presented tables.

Results

The four commonest tumours were nephroblastoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and hepatoblastoma. The mean age at diagnosis was 4.8 years, with a slightly higher male predominance. The majority of the tumours were extremely large at presentation. Overall, the CT - histopathology concordance was 79.2%.

Conclusion

Abdominal and pelvic CT scans play an important role in the diagnostic workup of pediatric malignancies by ensuring early and accurate diagnosis of these tumours.

Funding

None declared.

[Imaging of abdominal tumors in childhood and adolescence : Part I: Background, hepatic, splenic and pancreatic tumors]

In comparison to adult patients, other specific entities of abdominal tumors occur in childhood and adolescence. These include malignant tumors originating from embryonic tissue, such as hepatoblastoma. Some of the abdominal tumors are already diagnosed prenatally or in neonates. Sonography functions as the primary radiological basic diagnostics of pediatric abdominal space-occupying lesions, if necessary supplemented by administration of ultrasound contrast medium or the implementation of novel techniques (e.g. innovative Doppler and elastography procedures). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used for a comprehensive and detailed depiction of the tumors including the question of resectability and vascular supply. Various weighting and different MRI sequences are used in order to be able to assess the signal behavior of the tumor and therefore the possible presence of calcification, necrosis or hemorrhage, the behavior of dynamic contrast enhancement, and the presence and extent of diffusion disorders. This information is decisive in order to be able to assess the entity and malignancy of the abdominal space-occupying lesion. Rare but relevant tumors with respect to the entity occur in childhood and adolescence in the abdominal organs liver, spleen and pancreas.

Up-To-Date Practical Imaging Evaluation of Neonatal Soft-Tissue Tumors: What Radiologists Need to Know

OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this article are to provide an up-to-date overview of neonatal soft-tissue tumors, including information regarding their unique nature, and to present practical imaging techniques and characteristic imaging findings.

CONCLUSION

Neonatal soft-tissue tumors are a unique set of neoplasms that often have characteristic clinical and imaging findings. Imaging evaluation, mainly with ultrasound and MRI, plays an important role in the initial diagnosis, staging, preoperative assessment, and follow-up evaluation. Clear understanding of practical imaging techniques combined with up-to-date knowledge of characteristic imaging findings can help the radiologist provide a timely and accurate diagnosis of these neoplasms and can lead to optimal neonatal patient care.