An abdominal mass is usually detected on routine physical examination. Most of the time they develop slowly. You may not be able to feel the mass. Where the pain occurs helps the doctor make a diagnosis. For example, the abdomen is usually divided into four areas:
- Right-upper quadrant
- Left-upper quadrant
- Right-lower quadrant
- Left-lower quadrant
- Epigastric -- center of the abdomen just below the ribcage
- Periumbilical -- the area around the bellybutton
Home Care
All abdominal masses should be examined as soon as possible by the health care provider.
Changing your body position may help relieve pain due to an abdominal mass.
Changing your body position may help relieve pain due to an abdominal mass.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Seek immediate medical help if you have a pulsating lump in your abdomen along with severe abdominal pain. This could be a sign of a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which is an emergency condition.
Contact your doctor if you notice any type of abdominal mass.
Contact your doctor if you notice any type of abdominal mass.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
In nonemergency situations, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history.
In an emergency situation, you will be stabilized first. Then, the doctor will exam your abdomen and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history, such as:
In an emergency situation, you will be stabilized first. Then, the doctor will exam your abdomen and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history, such as:
- Where is the mass located?
- When did you notice the mass?
- Does it come and go?
- Has the mass changes in size or position, or has it become more or less painful?
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal x-ray
- Angiography
- Barium enema
- Blood tests such as CBC and blood chemistry
- Colonoscopy
- EGD
- Isotope study
- Sigmoidoscopy
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