Clinicopathological Characteristics and Outcomes of Pediatric Retroperitoneal Lesions: A Retrospective Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Saadat Eslami 1
Maryam Vajihinejad 1
Mahmood Reza Roknaldini 2
1 Department of Pathology, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
2 Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
10.18502/wjpn.v8i2.22105
Abstract
Background: Pediatric retroperitoneal lesions are rare and heterogeneous, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms that complicate early diagnosis. Understanding their clinical and pathological characteristics is essential for improving their management and outcomes. This study evaluated the clinical, pathological, and survival features of pediatric retroperitoneal lesions.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated 14 patients younger than 18 years with histologically confirmed retroperitoneal lesions treated at Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran, from 2016 to 2021. The research data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, tumor origin, pathological diagnosis, metastasis, recurrence, and survival. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
Results: The patients’ mean age was 13.9 ± 3.38 years, with an equal sex distribution. Secondary tumors were the most common lesions (64.3%), followed by primary malignant tumors (21.4%) and primary benign tumors (14.3%). The retroperitoneum was the most frequent site of origin (50%). Common presentations included nausea and vomiting (64.3%), abdominal pain (50%), and urinary symptoms (50%). Recurrence was observed in 21.4% of the patients. Five-year survival rates were 100% for primary benign tumors, 73.9% for primary malignant tumors, and 67.5% for secondary tumors. Recurrence was significantly associated with poorer survival (P = 0.027).
Conclusion: In this small cohort, pediatric retroperitoneal lesions were predominantly secondary tumors, while lymphoma was the most common primary malignancy. Their nonspecific presentation highlights the importance of imaging and pathological evaluation. Tumor recurrence was associated with reduced survival, suggesting prognostic significance and emphasizing the need for long-term follow-up. These findings are preliminary and require validation in larger studies.
Keywords
Retroperitoneal neoplasms
Child
Adolescent
Neoplasm metastasis
Prognosis
Survival analysis
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Journal of Integrated Maternal and Pediatric Care
Volume 8, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 91-97

  • Receive Date 22 July 2026