Abdominal Masses
August 18th, 2017
Overview
Feel For
A palpable mass within the abdomen, noting its:- Location
- Size
- Shape
- Consistency
- Mobility
Causes of Abdominal Mass
- Gastrointestinal - faecal loading, tumour, bezoar, appendiceal abscess, diverticular abscess
- Hepatobiliary - hepatomegaly, gallbladder enlargment
- Pancreatic - pancreatic cancer
- Renal - polycystic kidney disease, transplanted kidney, renal cell carcinoma
- Vascular - abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Hernia
- Lymphoma
Interpretation
- Right hypochondriumHepatomegaly, gallbladder enlargement, pancreatic head carcinoma
- Left hypochondriumPancreatic tumour, gastric tumour
- Right lumbarRenal tumour, polycystic kidney
- UmbilicusAbdominal aortic aneurysm, umbilical hernia
- Left lumbarRenal tumour
- Right iliac fossaTransplanted kidney, appendiceal abscess, caecal tumour, hernia, faecal loading
- HypogastriumUrinary retention, faecal loading, sigmoid tumour
- Left iliac fossaDiverticular abscess, sigmoid tumour, hernia, faecal loading
- FlankRenal cyst / tumour, retroperitoneal lymphoma
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