Abdominal tumors in childhood

Abstract

Palpation of an abdominal mass in children is frequently associated with a malignant disease. The most commonly tumors are nephroblastoma, neuroblastoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas in that order of frequency, with their proportion varying according to age. Early detection of malignant tumors is of crucial importance because it would allow a longer survival of affected children. Methods: This study includes patients diagnosed with an abdominal mass or tumor, admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Service of the “Dr. José Manuel de los Ríos” Children's Hospital, from January 1, 2017 to July 1, 2022, obtaining a total of 69 patients, excluding 3, in which the pathological anatomy report was not found in the clinical history, leaving 66 patients included in this study. Results: Regarding sex, of the 66 patients included, 42 were female (64%) and 24 were male (36%), the minimum age was 15 days old and the maximum was 18 years, with a mean age of 6.04 years (SD 5.28). Abdominal tumors, in order of frequency, were 18 patients with ovarian tumor (27.27%), 11 patients with renal tumor (16.67%), 5 patients with liver tumor (7.58%), 5 patients with metastatic tumors from extra-abdominal primaries (7.58%), among others. Conclusion: The most frequent tumor was ovarian, which is related to the high incidence of tumors in females.