Palpation of an olive-shaped mass in the epigastrium is an indication of:

Correct option is D

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a condition in infants where the muscle of the pylorus (the outlet of the stomach) becomes abnormally thickened, leading to gastric outlet obstruction. A classic clinical sign is the palpation of a firm, movable, olive-shaped mass in the epigastrium or right upper quadrant. This is often accompanied by projectile, non-bilious vomiting and dehydration.
Explanation of options: (a) Appendicitis – This typically presents with pain in the right lower quadrant and rebound tenderness, not an epigastric mass. (b) Ulcerative colitis – This is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon and rectum, with symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but no palpable mass. (c) Malabsorption syndrome – It presents with symptoms like chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and nutrient deficiencies, but not with a palpable mass. (d) Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis – This is the correct answer. The olive-shaped mass is a hallmark clinical sign, most commonly seen in infants between 2 to 8 weeks old.