[Importance of tomodensitometry in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors]

3 patients are presented who were admitted with the suspected urographic diagnosis of a "retroperitoneal tumor". A battery of additional investigations had not led to a definite diagnosis in the patients with an aortic aneurysm, a large dermoid cyst and a small bowel sarcoma infiltrating into the retroperitoneum. Among the 3 cases, only the dermoid cyst, could not be recognized angiographically. CT, however, provided the correct diagnosis in all 3 patients. Only one additional barium study in a patient with a small bowel sarcoma was necessary for further confirmation of the diagnosis.