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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