Imaging studies in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors in patients of the provincial hospital of Las Tunas

Abstract

Background: imaging studies, mainly computed axial tomography, are used in the diagnosis of tumors in the retroperitoneum.Objective: to characterize the patients with a presumptive diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumor, treated at the “Dr. Ernesto Guevara de la Serna” General Teaching Hospital of Las Tunas, Cuba, from September 2016 to September 2018, with emphasis on the use of imaging studies.Methods: a descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study was carried out at the aforementioned institution and during the period herein declared. The sample consisted of 17 patients over 18 years of age, with a presumptive tomographic diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumor. The following variables were assessed: age, sex, signs and symptoms, ultrasound findings, tomographic characterization and tumor location.Results: there were no significant differences between both sexes. The 60 to 69 age group presented the highest incidence (41,2 %). The most frequent form of presentation was the asymptomatic one (52,9 %), as a casual finding in tomographic studies for the diagnosis of other diseases. In the patients who presented symptoms and signs, the most frequent ones were: visible and palpable mass, nonspecific abdominal pain and ascites. In 64,7 % of the cases no ultrasound signs suggesting retroperitoneal tumor were evidenced. According to the tomographic characteristics, in all there was retroperitoneal or subperitoneal tumor mass. In most of the patients the tumor was located in the retroperitoneal space (76,5 %).Conclusions: computed axial tomography permitted the identification of retroperitoneal tumors in the studied sample of patients.

Keywords

• neoplasms
• tomography
• tomography, spiral computed
• ultrasonography