[Efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging in treatment of neuroblastoma].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 36 children with neuroblastoma at Chiba University from 1984 through 1989, and 29 patients of them were discussed about efficacy of MRI in treatment of neuroblastoma in this paper and the results were as follows. 1) MRI was difficult to differentiate tumor from normal kidney in the image intensity and was more efficient in determining the relationship of tumor to liver and to vascular structures. 2) MRI was better than CT in detecting the size and extent of tumor mass and in identifying lymph node spread using multiple planes. 3) MRI was more efficient than CT in defining displacement and encasement of renal vessels by tumor. It was useful to predict to reserve kidney before surgery. 4) MRI was useful to monitor tumor response to combined modalities of therapy. A favorable response was seen as a change in the image intensity in bone marrow metastases of neuroblastoma.