Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

In which condition does a nurse expect to find a "sausage-shaped" mass in the abdomen?

1. Pyloric stenosis

2. Appendicitis

3. Hirschsprung's disease

4. Intestinal obstruction

The correct answer is: Pyloric stenosis

The presence of a "sausage-shaped" mass in the abdomen is typically associated with intestinal obstruction, particularly in the context of a condition known as intussusception. In intussusception, one segment of the intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, often leading to obstruction. This can create a palpable mass that may feel like a "sausage," especially in younger children. Pyloric stenosis generally leads to projectile vomiting and a 'olive' shaped mass in the upper abdomen rather than a sausage-shaped mass in the middle or lower abdomen. Appendicitis, characterized by right lower quadrant pain and rebound tenderness, can lead to a palpable mass but it does not create the sausage shape associated with intussusception. Hirschsprung's disease causes bowel obstruction due to a lack of nerve cells in the colon but is more likely to result in abdominal distension rather than a specific sausage-shaped mass. Therefore, the expectation of finding a "sausage-shaped" mass should lead to the conclusion that intestinal obstruction due to intussusception is the relevant condition.