Poster - 144
Embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma as underlying reason of chronic constipation
Başak Erginel, Tufan İlksöz, Erbuğ Keskin, Tansu Salman
Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Surgery
Background: Childhood constipation is a chronic condition, which continues to affect 25%-50% of youth into adulthood. Approximately with less than 5% of these children having an underlying cause and the remaining can be identified as idiopathic or functional. The high prevalence of idiopathic or functional constipation and challenges in identifying underlying reasons can cause delays in diagnosis of these other reasons. Case: A 4 year old male patient was admitted to our clinic with complaints of chronic constipation. Constipation diet and medical treatment with a diagnosis of functional constipation was given in several centers beforehand but no regression of the complaints was observed. In our physical examination no abdominal tenderness was detected and in our rectal examination a painless, smooth surfaced mass located posterior to the bladder and preventing entry to the rectum was palpated. In computed tomography a mass extending from minor pelvis to major pelvis, filling iliac wings pressuring the bladder arching the iliac vasculature and extending to L5 was seen: Patients’ blood levels of ferritin was 69 ng/mL, LDH was 339 IU/L, AFP was 37 µg/L, NSE was 43 ng/mL, βHCG was 0.1 mIU/mL. Upon hospitalization no urine output was seen and only could be obtained with urethral catheterization. Pelvic mass excision under general anesthesia was performed. During the post-op follow up ileoileal intussusception was detected and manual reduction was performed. No problem was seen in the stool and urine output during follow up the patient and he was discharged on the 7th day of the second operation. The pathology report revealed embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma. Conclusion: Idiopathic or functional constipation being the reason of majority of chronic constipations could cause delays in diagnose of other reasons. Idiopathic or functional constipation being a diagnosis of exclusion and importance of exclusion of other reasons for early diagnosis, should always be remembered.