Radiographic overestimation of inferior vena cava involvement in pediatric neuroblastoma: a case report

Neuroblastoma commonly arises from the adrenal gland and frequently demonstrates close association with major abdominal vessels. Preoperative imaging plays a critical role in surgical planning, though differentiation between true vascular invasion and extrinsic compression remains challenging. We report a case of a 2-year-old female with a right adrenal neuroblastoma in whom preoperative imaging suggested inferior vena cava involvement. Intraoperative findings demonstrated compression without invasion, allowing for safe resection without vascular reconstruction. This case highlights the limitations of cross-sectional imaging in assessing vascular invasion in neuroblastoma and underscores the importance of operative correlation when imaging findings are equivocal.