Learning objectives
Abdominal wall tumours comprise benign as well as malignant conditions that clinically manifest rather unspecific as local swelling or pain,
and they can even develop unnoticed.
Some of these processes have typical sonographic appearance that can allow a confident diagnosis.
The purpose of this poster is to illustrate the spectrum of abdominal wall tumours and to describe the imaging features which help in the characterization of these lesions by means of sonography.
The correlations with CT and MRI images are also discussed.
Background
Abdominal wall tumours comprise a broad histopathological spectrum and the accurate knowledge of their appearance facilitates the correct diagnosis and optimal patient treatment.
Because of the peripheral location within the abdominal wall,
these lesions are best suited to be examined with sonography and,
in case of equivocal appearance,
they can be additionally characterized with CT or MRI.
Additional advantages of sonography in the analysis of these lesions are the high spatial resolution,
the evaluation of the vascularization in Doppler mode,
the focused examination on the...
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
The radiological examinations,
clinical and histopathologic reports from fourteen patients (11 females,
3 males,
mean age 42) with histologically verified abdominal wall tumours were retrospectively reviewed.
The tumours were primarily assessed with sonography and,
in selected cases,
further CT or MRI examinations were performed.
The following sonographic features were analysed: size,
shape,
echotexture,
vascularity,
and effect on the surrounding tissue.
Within the 15 patients included in the study a large diversity of histopathological entities was found,
including desmoid (n=5),
endometriosis (n=3),
Schloffer tumour (n=2),
lipoma...
Conclusion
The accurate diagnosis of the abdominal wall tumours represents a challenge for radiologists because of the large spectrum of these tumours,
therefore a meticulous description of suggestive sonographic features,
enforced by complementary CT and MRI findings may help in establishing a confident preoperative diagnosis without prolonging the diagnostic workup.
Personal Information
Dr.
med.
Ruxandra-Iulia Milos,
Department of Radiology,
Medical University of Vienna
Doz.
Dr.
Gerd Bodner,
Department of Radiology,
Medical University of Vienna,
Division of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology
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