In a message dated 1/30/99 4:19:14 PM !!!First Boot!!!, [log in to unmask] writes: << And clinical skills are just out the window. The test is everything. No one knows how to feel the baby's belly to feel a pyloric tumour--do the ultrasound. >> Dr. Jack Well, the typical pyloric "tumour" (aka as the olive sign) is best appreciated immediately after the infant has vomited and the pyloric mass is present in about 90% of infants with pyloric stenosis. Uh, what about the other 10%? A "simple" ultrasound is not dangerous and does not present any risks to the infant. Having surgery for "possible" or even "probable" reasons, is a very significant and risk-potential choice. If you were trying to decide on whether-or-not your infant needs surgery and the physician stated that we can do this "simple, no-risk" ultrasound and know for sure OR we can make an educated-guess that this pyloric mass I have palpated in your infant's abdomen is pyloric stenosis and go ahead and presume and assume that your infant has PS and we will operate to find out for sure. OBTW, will you please sign this consent form outlining all the potential risks & complications from surgery (uh, don't worry too much about the possible death clause). Andrew MD [log in to unmask]