While it is acknowledged that most children will have their initial imaging at a local non-specialist hospital, children’s tumours are most appropriately imaged thereafter in centres where their treatment will be given.
Techniques and protocols should be according to patterns of tumour spread. An approach that obtains as much of the essential information as possible at a single investigation is required, particularly if general anaesthesia or sedation are to be used. Where feasible, this should also include non-imaging investigations, such as bone marrow biopsy. In paediatric oncology, the TNM
classification is not used. Individual staging systems of common paediatric neoplasms (Wilms’ tumour, neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma) are not included in this document, but it is noteworthy that the international neuroblastoma risk grouping (INRG) is incorporated into new international collaborative studies.1,7
