What are the clinical manifestations of retroperitoneal tumors

The most common clinical manifestation of retroperitoneal tumors is a feeling of fullness on one side of the abdomen or in the entire abdomen, restricted breathing, and some patients may also experience lower limb edema or other adverse problems. One must be vigilant against this disease because it is a malignant disease.

1. Abdominal masses: There are usually no symptoms in the early stages and are discovered during physical examination or accidentally. Abdominal and back discomfort or pain are more common. Most patients experience abdominal discomfort first, and then obvious abdominal pain in the late stage. A few have back pain, groin pain, and scrotal to knee pain. As the tumor grows, corresponding symptoms may appear, such as fullness in the upper abdomen, which may even affect breathing; and a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen. If the tumor grows slowly and has strong adaptability, the symptoms will be mild; if the tumor grows quickly, suddenly increases in size, and has bleeding and necrosis, distension or severe pain will occur.

2. Compression symptoms: Irritation symptoms caused by compression of internal organs, such as nausea and vomiting caused by irritation of the stomach; increased bowel movement or symptoms of chronic intestinal obstruction caused by irritation of the rectum; frequent and urgent urination caused by irritation of the bladder; hydronephrosis caused by compression of the ureter; invasion of the abdominal plexus can cause pain in the back, perineum and lower limbs; compression of veins and lymphatic vessels can cause edema of the lower limbs.

3. Systemic symptoms: When a malignant tumor develops to a certain extent, weight loss, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and even cachexia may occur. If it is a pheochromocytoma, paroxysmal hypertension may occur because it secretes adrenaline and norepinephrine. If a tumor compresses the pancreas, it can stimulate the secretion of insulin and cause hypoglycemia.