Bahan leaflet poster

What Is an Abdominal
Lump?
Highlights
1. An abdominal lump is a swelling or bulge that emerges from
any area of the abdomen. It most often feels soft, but it may be
firm depending on its underlying cause.

2. A hernia causes the majority of lumps in the abdomen. Hernias

often appear after youve strained your muscles by lifting
something heavy, coughing for a long period, or being
constipated.

3. If you also have a fever, vomiting, or pain around an abdominal

lump, you may need emergency care.

An abdominal lump is a swelling or bulge that emerges from any area of the
abdomen. It most often feels soft, but it may be firm depending on its
underlying cause.

In most cases, a lump is caused by a hernia. A hernia is when your internal

organs pushes through your abdominal muscles. This can be easily corrected
with surgery. In rarer cases, the lump may be an undescended testicle, a
harmless hematoma, or lipoma. In even rarer circumstances, it may be a
cancerous tumor.

Possible Causes of an
Abdominal Lump

Common Causes
A hernia causes the majority of lumps in the abdomen. Hernias often appear
after you have strained your muscles by lifting something heavy, coughing
for a long period, or being constipated.

There are several types of hernias. Three kinds of hernias can produce a
noticeable lump:

Inguinal Hernia

An inguinal hernia occurs when there is a weakness in the abdominal wall

and a part of the intestine or other soft tissue protrudes through it. Youll
most likely see or feel a lump in your abdomen and will feel pain when
coughing, bending, or lifting.
In some cases, there are no symptoms until the condition gets worse. A hernia
is not harmful by itself. However, it needs to be repaired surgically because it
can cause complications, such as a loss of blood flow to the intestines or
obstruction of the bowels.

Umbilical Hernia

An umbilical hernia is very similar to an inguinal hernia. However, its more

localized and occurs around the navel. This type of hernia is most common in
babies and will often disappear as the their abdominal wall heals. The classic
sign of an umbilical hernia in a baby is outward bulging of the belly button
when they cry.

Surgery is required to fix an umbilical hernia if it doesnt heal on its own by

the time a child is 3 years old. The possible complications are similar to those
of an inguinal hernia.

Incisional Hernia

An incisional hernia is one that appears due to a surgical cut that has
weakened the abdominal wall. It requires corrective surgery to avoid
complications.

Less Common Causes

If a hernia isnt the cause of an abdominal lump, there are several other
possibilities.

Hematoma

A hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin that results from broken
blood vessels. Hematomas are typically caused by an injury. If a hematoma
occurs by your abdomen, a bulge and discolored skin may appear.
Hematomas typically resolve without needing treatment.

Lipoma

A lipoma is a lump of fat that collects under the skin. It feels like a firm,
rubbery bulge that moves slightly when pushed. Lipomas grow very slowly,
can occur anywhere on the body, and are almost always benign. They can be
removed surgically, but in most cases, surgery isnt necessary.

Undescended Testicle

During fetal development, the testicles form in the abdomen and then
descend into the scrotum. In some cases, one or more of them may not fully
descend. This may cause a small lump near the groin in newborn boys and
can be corrected with hormone therapy or surgery to bring the testicle into
position.

Tumor

Although very rare, a benign or cancerous tumor on an organ in the abdomen

or in the skin or muscles can cause a noticeable lump. Whether it requires
surgery or another type of treatment depends on the type of tumor and its
location.

When to Seek Medical

Help
 If you feel or see a lump in your abdomen that you cannot identify, make an
appointment to see your doctor. If you also have a fever, vomiting, or pain
around the lump, you may need emergency care.

At your doctors appointment, you can expect to receive a physical

examination of your abdomen. Your doctor may ask you to cough or strain in
some way while theyre examining your abdomen.

Other questions they may ask include:

When did you notice the lump?

Has the lump changed size or location?
What makes it change, if at all?
Do you have any other symptoms?
If you have a hernia, your doctor will likely be able to diagnose it during the
physical exam. You can then discuss arrangements for a surgical correction.

If your doctor doesnt believe the lump is a hernia, it may require further
testing. For a hematoma or lipoma, you probably wont need further tests. If a
tumor is suspected, you may need imaging tests to determine its location and
extent. You may also need a biopsy, or tissue removal, to determine if the
tumor is malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous).