CT dignosis of abdominal cystic lesions in children

Objective:To study the CT diagnosis and differential diagnosis of abdominal cystic lesions in children.Methods: The CT features of 35 cases of pathologically proved abdominal cystic lesions not in the parenchymal organs was studied retrospectively.Results:There were 11 cases of lymphangioma(7 cases of mesenteric lymphangioma and 4 cases of retroperitoneal lymphangioma),they appeared as cystic lesions with irregular shape,well defined margin,thin wall and low tension;there were linear septations in 8 cases,and after contrast administration no enhancement was observed.The features of congenital mesenterial cysts(n=8) were:round or oval,well defined,with thin and even wall;two of the 8 cases were multilocular;after contrast administration there was enhancement of cystic wall in 2 cases and no enhancement in 6.The diameters of all four greater omentum cysts were more than 6cm,located in front of the abdominal cavity with irregular shape.In six cases of intestinal duplication there was close relationship with the intestinal loops,from which 4 cases had tubular form and two cases had oval form,enhancement of cystic wall was observed in 4 cases.Three of four cases of cystic teratoma located at retroperitoneal space and one at sacroccygeal region,linear calcificaation could be seen in two cases.In four cases of abdominal abscess,there were irregular liquid density areas with thick and uneven wall,with marked enhancement of the wall after contrast administration.Conclusion:For most abdominal cystic lesions,CT can display the morphologic features,size,loction and relationship with adjacent structures,and thus accurate diagnosis can be obtained.