ABDOMINAL MASS

An abdominal mass is any limited to a small area enlargement or swelling in the human abdomen. Depending on its position, the abdominal mass may be caused by an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly), enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), protruding kidney, a pancreatic mass, a retroperitoneal mass (a mass in the posterior of the peritoneum), an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or various tumours, such as those caused by abdominal carcinomatosis and omental metastasis. The treatments depend on the cause, and may range from watchful waiting to radical surgery.

Many abdominal masses are exposed incidentally during schedule physical examination. When they present symptomatically, abdominal masses are most regularly linked with pain or digestive problems. However, depending on the cause, masses may be associated with other signs and symptoms, such as jaundice or bowel obstruction.