Sonographic evaluation of neonatal abdominal masses

ABSTRACT

This study included 35 neonates referred to the ultrasound unit at the New Children Hospital of Cairo University, for abdominal sonography. They were divided into two groups.The first group included 22 cases presenting with clinically palpable abdominal mass [es]. They proved by sonography to have renal pathology in 12 cases, hepatic pathology in 7 cases and splenomegaly in 3 cases. The second group contained 13 cases with no clinically palpable mass but suspected of having an intraabdominal pathology for variable reasons as multiple congenital anomalies, persistent unexplained jaundice, abdominal distension etc... Sonography diagnosed renal malformations in 2 cases, suprarenal hematoma in 4 cases, ascites in 3 cases, obstructive uropathy in 2 cases, congenital nephrosis in one case and liver malformation in the last one. Both groups were subjected to proper history with systemic and abdominal examination. Confirmatory laboratory tests, other imaging techniques and postoperative pathologic examination were selected according to each case. Our results emphasize the importance of abdominal sonography in identifying the anatomical origin and pathological nature of clinically detectable abdominal masses. It also proved very helpful in detecting significant abdominal pathology in the absence of clinically palpable masses