CROSS - SECTIONAL IMAGING FEATURES OF COMMON AND UNCOMMON PRIMARY RETROPERITONEAL TUMORS: AN EXPERIENCE AT OUR INSTITUTE - A PICTORIAL ESSAY

Primary retroperitoneal tumors are very rare neoplasms accounting for only 0.1-0.2% of all tumors in the body. They can be either mesodermal, neurogenic, germ cell or lymphoid in origin with mesodermal tumors accounting for 80% of all primary retroperitoneal neoplasms. Cross-sectional imaging such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging play a vital role in non-invasive assessment and localization of these tumors within the retroperitoneal space as well as for pretreatment staging. Though tissue diagnosis is required for definitive diagnosis due to the overlapping imaging features, certain key imaging features on cross-sectional imaging can help us to narrow down the differential diagnoses. Also imaging helps to guide the site of biopsy due to heterogeneous nature of these tumors. Familiarity with the key cross sectional imaging features of these heterogeneous neoplasms along with clinical and demographic data will facilitate accurate diagnosis and early management of the same.