Giant abdominal tumors: a 5-year case series presentation and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Giant abdominal tumors identify as masses with the largest dimension of more than 10cm and consist of various tumors from ovarian cysts to retroperitoneal tumors. Their clinical presentation is commonly vague, and their therapy of choice remains surgical excision.

Materials and Methods: We have retrospectively gathered and presented here a case series of 16 patients who underwent surgery for a giant abdominal mass during the period 2017-2022. Data were collected and reviewed by two independent authors.

Results: 16 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 56.44 years old and the most described symptom was abdominal distention in 31.3% (5/16). All lesions were greater than 10cm in the largest dimension, with 56% of them exceeding 20cm (9/16). The most common diagnosis as described in the pathologic review was ovarian cystic adenomas (43.75%, 7/16).

Conclusions: As our diagnostic materials and screening exams are getting better and more precise, giant abdominal tumors are getting rarer. Their inconclusive clinical presentation highlights the need for a targeted and thorough workup study.