The Abdominal Mass in the Patient With Tuberous Sclerosis

TUBEROUS sclerosis was first described by Bourneville and Brissaud¹in 1880, in feeble-minded children with epilepsy, progressive mental deterioration, and cerebral calcification. Although the syndrome derives its name from the cerebral hamartomatous neuronal-glial proliferations or malformations which apparently are responsible for the epileptiform and mental deficiency, hamartomatous anomalies occur in other parts. The presence of an abdominal mass in such a patient requires certain special considerations and is the subject of this case report. Report of a Case A 12-year-old boy was hospitalized in August 1966, because of a gradually enlarging, asymptomatic abdominal mass known to have been present for three years. The patient had suffered convulsive seizures since the age of 2 years, and the tuberous sclerosis complex was diagnosed at our clinic at the age of 4 years. The patient had, at this time, severe mental retardation. There were multiple nodular and papular skin lesions, especially about