The sonographic evaluation of the great vessels' interspace in the pediatric retroperitoneum

The great vessels' interspace, in the pediatric retroperitoneum, deserves special attention during abdominal sonographic examination. By rotating the child into the right anterior oblique position, the full length of this interspace is demonstrated. Normally, it has a uniform appearance. When invaded by disease, the sonographic pathology can be identified and differentiated from the surrounding structures. The studies were gathered from experience with 1658 retroperitoneal sonographic examinations. Fourteen children were found with disease involving the great vessels' interspace: 4 patients with lymphoma, 3 patients with sympathetic ganglioneuroblastoma, 2 patients with retroperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma, and one case each, respectively, of adrenal neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumour, clear cell carcinoma of the kidney, retroperitoneal teratoma and Toxocara canis.