All issues > Volume 34(3); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(3):380-387. Published online March 31, 1991.

Clinical review of abdominal masses in infants and children.

Dong A Lee¹, Woo Ryoung Lee¹, Jae Ock Park¹, Chang Hwi Kim¹, Sang Jhoo Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University, Seoul, Korea

Received: August 22, 1990;  Accepted: November 20, 1990.

Abstract

We reviewed 34 patients with palpable abdominal mass among 5,920 infants and children who admitted to the department of pediatrics of Soon Chun Hyang University from Jun. 1, 1986 to Aug. 31，1989. The results were as follows: 1) The incidence was 0.57% and the male: female ratio was 1:1.3. The mass was noted before 1 year of age in 23.5% of cases and under 5 years of age in 73.5% of cases. 2) The most common etiology of abdominal masses was intra-abdominal abscess. 3) Intraperitoneal masses were 24 cases (70.6%) and retroperitoneal masses were 10 cases (29.4%). The most common originated organ was hepatobiliary system and kidney, respectively. 4) Ultrasonography is cheaper than CT, allows imaging in multiple planes without sedation, permits repetitive examination, and requires no physiologic function for anatomic visualization. Since there is a paucity of fat in children, ultrasonography is ideal for the evaluation of pediatric abdominal masses.

Keywords :Ultrasonography;Abdominal mass;Infants and children