Commonest intra-abdominal tumour below 2 years ?
**Core Concept**
Neuroblastoma is a type of extracranial solid tumor that originates from the neural crest cells of the sympathetic nervous system, commonly affecting young children. It is the most common intra-abdominal tumor in children under the age of 2.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is a type of neuroblastoma that arises from the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys and are responsible for producing hormones such as adrenaline. Neuroblastoma is thought to arise from a genetic mutation that leads to the uncontrolled growth of neural crest cells, which then form a tumor. The adrenal glands are a common site for neuroblastoma to develop, especially in young children.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Wilms tumor is a type of kidney cancer that affects children, but it is not the most common intra-abdominal tumor below 2 years. Wilms tumor typically arises from the kidneys, not the adrenal glands.
**Option B:** Hepatoblastoma is a type of liver cancer that affects young children, but it is not the most common intra-abdominal tumor below 2 years. Hepatoblastoma typically arises from the liver, not the adrenal glands.
**Option C:** Nephroblastoma is another term for Wilms tumor, which we have already discussed.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Neuroblastoma is often diagnosed incidentally on imaging studies performed for other reasons, such as abdominal pain or fever. It is essential for pediatricians and radiologists to be aware of this condition and to perform careful imaging and histological analysis to confirm the diagnosis.
**Correct Answer:** A. Neuroblastoma.