The Efficacy of Fetal Ultrasonography and Postnatal Abdominal Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Neonatal Abdominal Mass

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Most neonatal abdominal masses are benign in nature, but early detection and management is important to avoid the development of complications. So, we studied the causes of neonatal abdominal masses and the efficacy of ultrasonography for early detection and diagnosis. METHODS: We reviewed 36 newborn infants with abdominal masses who had been admitted to the nursery and Neonatal Intensive Cave Unit of Seoul National University Children' s Hospital from Jan. 1, 1989 to Dec. 31, 1995. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 38 weeks and the male to female ratio was 22 14. All masses were benign and the most common etiology was hydronephrosis (41.7%). The following etiologies were multicystic dysplastic kidney, polycystic kidney, ovarian cyst, hemangioendothelioma, teratoma, meconium peritonitis, mesenteric cyst and intestinal duplication cyst. All except one were detected before the first 48hours, and among them, 32 cases (88.9%) detected antenatally. All patients except one who died shortly after birth, were examined by abdominal ultrasonography, and 31 of 35 masses (88.6%) had the same diagnosis of ultrasonography. Five cases had associated abnormalities in the opposite kidney and other organs. CONCLUSION: The most common etiology of neonatal abdominal masses was hydronephrosis and majority of masses originated from genitourinary system. Most abdominal masses were detected antenatally and abdominal ultrasonography was an efficient method for the diagnosis of neonatal abdominal masses.