Giant cystic abdominal masses in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Abdominal Imaging
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Abdominal masses in children present a diverse range of etiologies, requiring accurate diagnostic approaches.
• Cystic and cyst-like masses are common, necessitating a systematic review for effective clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive pictorial review of common and uncommon cystic and cyst-like abdominal masses in pediatric patients.
• To illustrate the characteristic imaging features that aid in the diagnosis of these diverse pediatric abdominal conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of a wide spectrum of pediatric abdominal masses, encompassing both common and rare cystic and cyst-like entities.
• Correlation of imaging findings with histopathological diagnoses where available.
• Emphasis on pictorial representation to highlight key diagnostic imaging clues.

Main Results:

• Detailed discussion and illustration of numerous conditions including mesenchymal hamartoma, choledochal cyst, hydronephrosis, multicystic dysplastic kidney, and various mesenteric and ovarian cysts.
• Presentation of imaging characteristics for adrenal hemorrhage, pancreatic lesions, urachal cysts, teratomas, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pseudocysts.
• Inclusion of less common entities such as congenital splenic cysts, pancreatic cystadenoma, and meconium pseudocysts.

Conclusions:

• A broad differential diagnosis is essential for evaluating pediatric abdominal masses.
• Recognizing specific imaging features is crucial for differentiating between various cystic and cyst-like abdominal masses in children.
• This review serves as a valuable resource for radiologists and clinicians managing pediatric abdominal masses.