CT Diagnosis of Chest Wall Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

PurposePrimary chest wall rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is very rare with limited imaging characteristic studies in the literature. This paper analyzes the CT imaging features of chest wall RMS in children to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Materials and MethodsThe imaging data of contrast enhanced CT scan of pathology conifrmed chest wall RMS in ifve children were analyzed.ResultsThe lesion was located in the anterior chest wall in one case, in the posterior chest wall in two cases, and the lateral chest wall in two cases (axillary). The tumors were round or spindle in shape with shallow spiculation. Plain CT showed heterogeneous density with patchy low-density necrotic area in two cases, and homogeneous attenuation in three patients. In all ifve cases there was no calciifcation or fatty tissue. The tumor involvement of adjacent spinal canal was seen in one case. Visceral compression was evident including lung parenchyma in one case, heart and liver in one case. Tumor blood vessel growth was seen in two cases. All ifve lesions were adjacent to the ribs, humerus, scapula and the spine with bone destruction in one case. On contrast enhanced scan, all ifve cases demonstrated heterogeneous mild to moderate enhancement, more prominent in the periphery. There were enlarged feeding arteries. Necrotic areas did not enhance. In two cases there were pulmonary metastases. Pleural effusion and ascites were identiifed in one case. There was lymph node metastasis in one case.ConclusionThe CT manifestation of children's chest wall RMS for chest wall include large soft tissue mass, heterogeneous density, no calciifcation or fatty tissue, partial necrosis, adjacent tissue compression, lymph node or distant metastasis. Combining with clinical manifestations, comprehensive analysis of contrast enhanced CT imaging can improve diagnostic accuracy.