ROLE OF MDCT IN DIAGNOSIS AND RADIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NEUROBLASTOMA.

Background: Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid malignant neoplasms in childhood. Accounts for 15% of cancer deaths, mostly in the first two years. It has an infiltrative growth pattern , with early metastatic disease. Diagnosis of the tumor is important prior to treatment . Aim of The Study: To evaluate the accuracy of MDCT in diagnosis and radiological characterization of neuroblastoma and to assess its extent , common and uncommon locations. Material and Methods: Retrospective study was carried out in radiology department at Karbala teaching hospital for pediatrics between January 2016 and November 2018, on twenty four patients , 8(33.3 %) were males and 16 (66.7%) were females , mean age (3.55 ±2.21 years), who had a radiological impression of and reported as neuroblastoma on MDCT examination and patients those who had a final diagnosis of neuroblastoma as confirmed by histopathological examination of the surgical specimens. All patients had undergone native and contrast enhanced CTS to the area of interest. Results: The diagnostic accuracy of MDCT in diagnosis of neuroblastoma was (83.3%) and sensitivity value was (90.9%). Most common location was in the abdomen (77.3% ) and about (13.64%) at the superior and posterior mediastinum. The least common sites were the neck and pelvis and the percentage was (4.5%) for each. Most of the tumor masses are large at presentation, extend beyond the midline , with diagrammatic extension and the presence of distant metastasis, 18(81.8%) of patients had tumors of stages 3 or 4. Conclusion: MDCT is a valuable tool in diagnosis and radiological characterization of neuroblastoma.