All issues > Volume 27(12); 1984

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1984;27(12):1202-1212. Published online December 31, 1984.

Clinical Review of Abdominal Masses in Infant and Children .

Dong Hyun Choo¹, Chong Young Pakr¹, Sang Pok Suk¹, Jeong Kee Seo¹, Hyo Seop Ahn¹, Kwang Wook Ko¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, college of medicine, Seoul, National University,Korea.

Abstract

One hundred and ninety four patients who were admitted with the chief complaint of abdominal mass were reviewed. The result were as follows; 1) The common abdominal masses in infants and children were neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, germ cell tumor, hydronephrosis and hepatoblastoma in decreasing order of frequency. Malignant tumors were 114 cases and benign tumors were 69 cases. 2) The male:female ratio was 110 : 84. In 29.8% of cases, the mass was noted before 1 year of age and almost 70% of cases, before 4 years of age. Especially, in infancy, the proportion of neuroblastoma, Wilms’ tumor, germ cell tumor, hydronephrosis and hepatoblastoma was observed up to 63%. 3) Intraperitoneal tumors were 95 cases(49%) and among them, hepatobiliary tumors were most common. Retroperitoneal tumors were 86 cases(43.3%) and among them, urinarytumors were most common. 4) The differences between the tentative diagnosis and the post-operative or histologic diagnosis were noted in 46 cases(23.7%). 5) The proportion of midline crossing on abdominal palpation in neuroblastoma or Wilms’ tumor was 59.4% and 27.6%, respectively. 6) Abnormal increase in the amount of urinary excretion of VMA was noted in 88.5% of neuroblastoma patients. There was no false positive. 7) Serum alpha-fetoprotein were increased abnormally in 84.6% of hepatoblastoma patients and almost half of malignant germ cell tumor patients. 8) Calcifications on simple abdominal film were noted in 82.6% of germ cell tumor patients. 9) The identification of mass location was possible by I VP in 80% and by ultrasonography has additional advantages in the identification of the internal texture of masses and the degree of spread. In the evaluation of patients under 1 year old, ultrasonography was highly effective. 10) Liver scan was the most sensitive modality in the detection of SOL in liver paranchyme.

Keywords :Abdominal mass;Infants and children.