Paraspinal interfaces in the lower thoracic area in children: evaluation by CT.

Computed tomography was used to examine the three paraspinal interfaces (lines), consisting of the right and left paraspinal areas and the prespinal area in the lower thorax in 20 children. The abnormal CT findings were correlated with plain radiographic findings. The various disease contributing to paraspinal abnormality included malignant and benign neoplasm and inflammatory disease. Neuroblastoma was the most common entity. Fourteen of 20 patients had paraspinal masses representing either metastasis or lymphoma. Four had small pleural effusions and two had a combination of small pleural effusion and masses. Plain radiographs also showed the paraspinal masses, except in the prespinal area, where four of seven abnormalities seen with CT were not detected with plain radiographs. CT also better demonstrated the extent of involvement than did plain radiography.