Masses
On this page:Abdominal Mass
Overview
Feel For
A palpable mass within the abdomen, noting its:- Location
- Size
- Shape
- Consistency
- Mobility
Abdominal Mass
- Right hypochondrium - liver, gallbladder, head of pancreasHepatomegaly, gallbladder enlargement, pancreatic head carcinoma
- Epigastrium - pancreas, stomachPancreatic tumour, gastric tumour, colonic tumour, bezoar
- Left hypochondrium- spleen, pancreas, stomach, colonPancreatic tumour, gastric tumour
- Right lumbar - ascending colon, kidneyRenal tumour
- Umbilicus - small bowel, aortaAbdominal aortic aneurysm, umbilical hernia
- Left lumbar - descending colon, kidneyRenal tumour
- Right iliac fossa - appendix, caecum, ovaryAppendiceal abscess, caecal tumour, hernia, faecal loading
- Hypogastrium - uterus, bladder, sigmoid colonUrinary retention, faecal loading, sigmoid tumour
- Left iliac fossa - sigmoid colon, ovaryDiverticular abscess, sigmoid tumour, hernia, faecal loading
- Flank - kidney, retroperitoneumRenal cyst / tumour, retroperitoneal lymphoma
Overview
- Ovarian masses are not appreciable by abdominal palpation. Even the largest of ovarian mass may only be palpable by bimanual examination.
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