Imaging approach to retroperitoneal vascular tumors: a narrative review

Primary retroperitoneal tumors are rare and can encompass a large range of pathologies, including both benign and malignant etiologies. Retroperitoneal tumors with a vascular component constitute a small percentage of these tumors, and include intravascular and extravascular leiomyosarcoma, paraganglioma, extrarenal angiomyolipoma, Castleman disease, angiosarcoma, hemangioma, cystic lymphangioma, and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Cross-sectional imaging is often valuable to characterize vascular retroperitoneal masses and delineate their relationship with surrounding anatomical structures, aiding in surgical planning. This article aims to review the imaging features of these vascular retroperitoneal tumors and presents a diagnostic approach to aid in diagnosing these tumors.