[Differential sonographic diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors]

Presentation of the sonographic findings of 170 retroperitoneal masses: primary and metastatic neoplasms, abdominal aortic aneurysms, hematomas and abszesses. A typical diagnostically reliable sonographic pattern was seen only in retroperitoneal hematomas in the area of the psoas and in aortic aneurysms, provided the aorta itself could be visualized. In all the other masses the ultrasound pattern did not provide reliable clues as to their histology; ultrasound, however, proved to be highly successful in demonstrating the presence and location of the lesion.