Abstract
Abdominal and retroperitoneal masses in children and adolescents present the clinician with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool that should become part of the surgeon’s repertoire. Ultrasound can often be used as the first diagnostic test for many intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal masses in children and neonates. Importantly, ultrasound can be used to determine the size, location, vascularity, and cystic versus solid nature of the mass. Using the sonographic characteristics of a mass, coupled with the age, sex, and history of the patient, often leads to a precise narrowing of the differential diagnosis. Here, we describe the sonographic findings of some of the most commonly seen cystic and solid intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal masses of infancy and childhood. Following diagnosis, ultrasound is often an important adjunct for bedside procedures as well as in the operating room. The chapter concludes with descriptions on how ultrasound is useful when performing biopsies, guided drainage procedures, and as an intraoperative guide for tumor resection.
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Riggle, K., Gow, K. (2016). Intra-abdominal and Retroperitoneal Masses. In: Scholz, S., Jarboe, M. (eds) Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound in Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21699-7_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21699-7_11
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