Role of computed tomography scan in diagnosis of retroperitoneal masses

Background: In the vast and ever-expanding field of surgery there are only few subjects which have provoked controversy; curiosity related to correct management of patients suffering from various condition of the abdomen. This becomes very true when the patient has a retroperitoneal mass clinically. The problem of retroperitoneal mass was intriguing, fascinating and certainly most perplexing. The present study was planned with the objective to study the various clinical presentations of retroperitoneal mass, and their radiological findings, and co-relation between these various findings.Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. The study included 30 patients clinically diagnosed having retroperitoneal mass, attending the department of general surgery.Results: The most common affected age group was of 40-50 years (9, 30.00%). The most frequent presenting symptoms were abdominal lump (28, 93.33%). Pallor was the commonest clinical sign (20, 66.67%). Retroperitoneal lymph node masses were the commonest (12, 40.00%) malignant lesions. Retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy was the most common lesion.Conclusions: The retroperitoneum has long been an area poorly visualised by conventional radiographic techniques and in this respect, computed tomography scan has great advantages over other modalities. Hence the modern surgeon should no longer be considered a ‘shadow-gazer' but an anatomist in-vivo.