Lump in the abdomen
Definition
A lump in the abdomen is a soft bulge of tissue or a small, local area of swelling in the belly area.
See also: Abdominal mass
Alternative Names
Abdominal hernia; Hernia - abdominal; Abdominal wall defectsCauses
Most often, a lump in the abdomen is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia occurs when there is an area where the muscles are weak, and this allows the internal organs to bulge through the abdominal wall.
A hernia can form where the surgical cut was made. An incisional hernia may not appear until after straining, heavy lifting, or a prolonged period of coughing.
Related topics:
References
Seidel HM, Ball JW, Daines JE, Benedict GW. Mosby’s Guide to Physical Examination. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006.
Chirdan LB, Uba AF, Kidmas AT. Incarcerated umbilical hernia in children. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2006; 16(1):45-48.
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