Objective:

To analyze the characteristics of two-dimensional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma (RGN) for improving its preoperative diagnostic accuracy.

Methods:

The ultrasonic images of 12 patients with RGN confirmed pathologically in Zhongshan Hospital

Fudan University from January 2012 to December 2022 were collected for analysis. Eight patients underwent CEUS exa

mination. The enhancement method

enhancement intensity and performance characteristics in different enhancement phases were observed.

Results:

Twelve patients had a total of 12 lesions

all of which were single. Twelve lesions were hypoechoic and hyperechoic capsules were seen around them. The internal echo of 8 lesions was uneven and 4 lesion was uniform. Seven lesions were accompanied by punctate calcification. Eight lesions were irregular in shape and 4 lesions were regular in oval shape. Four lesions had clear borders and 8 lesion had unclear border. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) detected a small amount of punctate color blood flow inside 7 lesions. In the arterial phase

5 lesions showed mild overall uniform enhancement

1 had mild overall uneven enhancement

and 2 lesions showed mild peripheral uneven enhancement on CEUS. All 8 lesions gradually decreased and showed hypoechoic in the venous phase and the delayed phase.

Conclusion:

RGN is mostly manifested as an inhomogeneous low-echo tumor with a high-echo capsule on two-dimensional ultrasound. Spottycalcification has certain characteristics

with irregular morphology

and is more suggestive when it appears in a “tear-drop” shape. Although the lesion is large

there is little blood flow signal detected by CDFI. On CEUS

the lesion often shows mild enhancement

with slow regression in the venous and delayed phases.