RETROPERITONEUM AND PELVIC EXTRAPERITONEUM: ANATOMIC LANDMARKS, IMAGING FEATURES, AND PATTERNS OF DISEASE SPREAD

Ayman H. Gaballah, MD; Maged Algazzar, MD; Irfan A. Kazi, MD; Mohamed Badawy, MD; Muhammad Awiwi, MD; Amr Shabana, MD; Mindy Wang, MD; Akram Shabaan, MD; Moataz Soliman, MD; Khaled M. Elsayes, MD; Yashant Aswani, MD; Peter S. Liu, MD; Jennifer Sammon, MD

The retroperitoneum and pelvic extraperitoneum are critical anatomical regions containing major vessels, lymphatics, nerves, and abdominopelvic organs. These areas are divided by fascial planes into compartments that influence disease spread. The document reviews various diseases affecting these spaces, including congenital, inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and traumatic conditions. It also details the imaging features that help differentiate between various pathologies and their typical patterns of spread.