Abdominal Mass
Alternate Names : Mass in the Abdomen
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
In nonemergency situations, a complete medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. In emergency situations, the condition of the affected person will be stabilized first, then the abdomen will be examined and the medical history will be obtained.
Medical history questions documenting an abdominal mass in detail may include:
- Location
- Is the mass in the upper abdomen?
- Is the mass in the right-upper quadrant?
- Is the mass in the left-upper quadrant?
- Is the mass in the upper-middle area?
- Is the mass in the lower abdomen?
- Is the mass in the left-lower quadrant?
- Is the mass in the right-lower quadrant?
- Is the mass around the navel (periumbilical)?
- Is the mass in the groin (inguinal)?
- Time pattern
- How long ago was the mass noticed?
- Does the lump or mass come and go?
- How often have you seen the mass? (On how many occasions?)
- Other
- Has the mass changed in size, position, extent of discomfort, or in any other way?
- What other symptoms are also present?
The physical examination will include extra attention to the entire abdomen. Several position changes may be necessary during abdominal examination because some masses can only be felt in certain positions. A pelvic examination and a rectal examination may also be performed in some cases.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed are:
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