Abdominal Mass Signs and Symptoms

• Typically, this sign develops insidiously and may represent an enlarged organ, a neoplasm, an abscess, a vascular defect, or a fecal mass.
• Commonly detected on routine physical examination, an abdominal mass is a localized swelling in one abdominal quadrant.
• Distinguishing an abdominal mass from a normal structure requires skillful palpation.
• A palpable abdominal mass is an important clinical sign and usually represents a serious and perhaps life-threatening disorder.
• At times, palpation must be repeated with the patient in a different position or performed by a second examiner to verify initial findings.

History and Physical Examination Abdominal Mass

• patient’s abdominal mass doesn’t suggest an aortic aneurysm, continue with a detailed history.
• Ask the patient if the mass is painful. If so, ask if the pain is constant or if it occurs only on palpation.
• noticed any change in the size or location of the mass.
• Determine if the patient was already aware of the mass.
• Is it localized or generalized?
• Determine the consistency of the mass. Is it doughy, soft, solid, or hard
• mass moves with your hand or in response to respiration

Abdominal Mass Medical Cause(s)

• Cholecystitis. Deep palpation below the liver border may reveal a smooth, firm, sausage-shaped mass
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysm may persist for years, producing only a pulsating periumbilical mass with a systolic bruit over the aorta, After rupture, the aneurysm no longer pulsates
• Colon cancer. A right lower quadrant mass may occur with cancer of the right colon, which may also cause occult bleeding with anemia and abdominal aching, pressure, or dull cramps
• Gastric cancer. Advanced gastric cancer may produce an epigastric mass
• Diverticulitis. Most common in the sigmoid colon, diverticulitis may produce a left lower quadrant mass that’s usually tender, firm, and fixed.
• Hydronephrosis. Enlarging one or both kidneys, hydronephrosis produces a smooth, boggy mass in one or both flanks
• Hernia. The soft and typically tender bulge is usually an effect of prolonged
• Hepatomegaly produces a firm, blunt, irregular mass in the epigastric region or below the right costal margin
• Ovarian cyst. A large ovarian cyst may produce a smooth, rounded, fluctuant mass, resembling a distended bladder, in the suprapubic region.
• Splenomegaly. The lymphomas, leukemias, hemolytic anemias, and inflammatory diseases
• Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids). If large enough, these common

EMERGENCY INTERVENTIONS

• If the patient has a pulsating midabdominal mass and severe abdominal or back pain, suspect an aortic aneurysm.