What are the symptoms of retroperitoneal tumors

Many people do not understand what kind of disease retroperitoneal tumor is. In fact, the harm caused by this disease is relatively large. Common symptoms are abdominal tumors, and patients will have obvious abdominal pain or various discomfort symptoms in the late stage.

1. Abdominal mass

There are usually no symptoms in the early stages and it is 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. Most patients experience abdominal discomfort first, and then obvious abdominal pain in the late stage.

2. Compression symptoms

Irritation symptoms caused by compression of internal organs, such as nausea and vomiting due to irritation of the stomach; increased bowel movement or symptoms of chronic intestinal obstruction due to irritation of the rectum; frequent and urgent urination due to irritation of the bladder; hydronephrosis due to 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.

Except for a few retroperitoneal tumors such as pheochromocytoma that can secrete chemical mediators and produce obvious clinical symptoms and are easy to be detected early, the vast majority of retroperitoneal tumors are asymptomatic at the beginning. When the tumor gradually grows and produces compression symptoms or is accidentally discovered by the patient, the patient will begin to seek medical examination. The most common symptoms are abdominal mass, abdominal pain, and symptoms caused by compression and irritation of the corresponding organs.