ABSTRACT
Objective By using multi detector row spiral CT (MDCT), to investigate the CT imaging features of inflammatory diseases in retroperitoneal space with correlation of radiological anatomy.Methods The clinical and laboratory dada of 30 patients with proven inflammatory diseases of retroperitoneal space were collected. All patients underwent MDCT plain scanning and portal venous acquisition. CT imaging data generated at portal venous phase were processed with coronal, sagittal and oblique multi planar reformation (MPR) technique.Results Acute pancreatitis and various types of renal infection were the two main sources of retroperitoneal inflammation. Depending on the specific anatomic locations, retroperitoneal inflammation of different subspaces demonstrated characteristic imaging features. Spreading of inflammatory process across subspaces was also quite common.Conclusion MDCT is the imaging method of choice to depict comprehensively and clearly the inflammatory diseases of various retroperitoneal spaces.