[Benign and malignant intra-abdominal tumors in childhood]

31 children with intraperitoneal masses were operated upon during a 10 year period between 1975 to 1985, 15 tumors were malignant (3 hepatoblastomas, 6 NHL, 3 RMS, 1 mesothelioma, 1 teratocarcinoma of the ovary, 1 haemangioendothelioma of the liver). 16 benign lesions included 3 solitary liver cysts, 2 haemangiomas of the liver, 2 parasitic cysts, 3 ovarian cysts, 2 choledochal cysts, 2 intraperitoneal encapsulations, 1 mesenteric cyst, 1 duplication of the intestine. Half of the benign masses were found in the first month of life, two thirds (69%) under 1 year of age, later the malignant tumors are more frequent.