Approach to Abdominal Masses

Abstract

Most physicians working in pediatrics will encounter at least once in their career a patient with an abdominal mass. Pediatric abdominal masses are often discovered incidentally and should prompt immediate evaluation. Differential diagnosis is extensive and may involve many systems including the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems. The main challenge for the physician is to differentiate benign from the malignant masses. While most lesions in infants are benign, all children are at risks of developing malignant conditions. Patients with abdominal masses should have a detailed clinical history and a meticulous physical examination. Further investigations should be conducted accordingly in order to clarify the cause of the mass. Imaging studies should follow the ALARA (“as low as reasonably achievable”) principle, minimizing the use of radiation to the lowest needed in order to secure the diagnosis.