There are many reasons for a lump in the abdomen in a child even as young as a few months old to a child who is a few years old. The commonest cause for a lump may be a tumour that may or may not be malignant. Yes, the notion that cancers can only occur in old persons is wrong and cancers of various organs in children are a distinct possibility - known as embryonal cancers and are present in a small size since before birth. These cancers continue to grow after birth and the later they are noticed or investigated for - the larger and more difficult it is to treat them. Not all lumps are cancers , some are benign lumps and may grow slowly till they are treated. Besides solid organs like the kidneys, liver, adrenal glands, even intestinal tract may be affected by solid or cystic masses. The effect of the lump may depend on where they are situated, how fast they grow, and can cause pain, obstruction of the intestinal tract, the urinary tract and so on. The mass can cause external pressure on any tubular organ like the intestine, the ureter, the bile duct and block it causing a build up of pressure proximal to the site of obstruction. Cancer of organs can spread locally and engulf important large blood vessels, grow into the wall of the vessel, intestine or tubular structure. The tumor can also spread through the blood stream to other organs in the abdomen or outside the abdomen - these are called metastasis. The reason for writing these details is to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, thorough investigations, ideal therapy that may include surgery, chemotherapy (anti cancer drugs), and radiation therapy. With proper care and a prolonged follow up, it is possible to give good results. However, delay in diagnosis, and therapy can increase both the mortality and the morbidity due to the mass.

The common point in all is not to wait once a lump is felt in abdomen. The child must be shown to a good doctor at the earliest so that investigations and diagnosis is made early and therapy can begin soon after that.