[Retroperitoneal mesenchymomas. Remarks apropos of 19 cases]

The authors report 19 cases and review the literature. They analyse the pathological and clinical characteristics of retro-peritoneal mesenchymoma. The diagnosis of these tumours is facilitated by intravenous urography, barium enema, arteriography and bidimensional echography. Cavography is interesting to determine the venous risk. The unforeseeable course, which is always severe in these tumours, is characterised by the frequency of local relapse. The prognosis is very poor with only one 8 year survival in this series. Surgical removal is the only possible treatment, in spite of difficulty, especially during recurrences.