My niece has a lump on her left side below her rib cage. She is 10 months old. She s been having fever on and off for the past week. My brother was told to get her an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan. What would be the possible causes for the lump? Isn t MRI and CT scan too risky for babies?
Hi, Dear,Thanks for your query to Chat Doctor virtual Clinic. I studied your query in all the details put forth by you. I understood your health concerns. I would suggest you to consult an ER Pediatrician or Pediatric-Surgeon or ER Pediatric Oncologist if need be, before doing CT scan(avoiding unwanted radiation exposure) or MRI-as the baby is very small for her age and may need sedation which would risk her body. So on mere brothers nonmedical advise you should avoid CT/MRI scans for a painful lump with 1 weeks fever off and on. As there are many causes of a painful lump under the left rib cage, without the first-hand information I would not be able to advise you for your baby niece. I would advise therefore to consult an Er Pediatrician before doing this test, who would rule out the other causes as Lymphoma/or other neonatal tumors besides infective skin/subcutaneous lumps with fever and would treat it accordingly with-Sponging for the control of fever if need be, Antipyretic Chat Doctor.