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Twenty-two patients with metaphyseal primary malignant bone tumors (17 osteosarcomas, 5 Ewing's tumors) occurring before closure of the growth plate were examined with plain radiographs and MRI in order to determine the physeal or epiphyseal extent of the tumor. Results were correlated with the pathologic examination. Transphyseal spread was pathologically proven in 13 cases (59%): 12 cases of osteosarcoma and 1 case of Ewing's tumor (70% and 20%, respectively). There was no significant relation between epiphyseal invasion, age of patient, length of tumor or, in the cases of osteosarcoma, response to chemotherapy. Plain radiographs showed epiphyseal involvement in 4 cases and there were 10 false negatives. MRI revealed epiphyseal involvement in all cases; there were no false positives or false negatives. T1-weighted images in coronal or sagittal planes appeared to be sufficient. These findings are very useful in planning surgical limb salvage procedures and stress the ineffectiveness of the "barrier effect" of the growth plate against tumor spread.

Splenic hemangioma is a very rare neoplasm in children. We report three cases of splenic hemangioma, two of solitary hemangioma and one of hemangiomatosis. Two patients had hematologic disorders related to hemangioma. Imaging findings of this entity are presented and discussed with emphasis on pathologic correlation.

Calcifications in lymphoma are rare findings prior to therapy. We report our experience with a 13-year-old boy who presented with a primary calcified duodenal Burkitt's lymphoma. US and CT findings are described. Two differential diagnoses are discussed.