MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Lump in the abdomen

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Lump in the abdomen

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Infant abdominal hernia (gastroschisis)

Alternative names Return to top

Abdominal hernia; Hernia - abdominal; Abdominal wall defects

Definition Return to top

This lump is a soft bulge of tissue or a small, localized swelling on the abdomen. See also abdominal mass (a solid block of tissue that can be felt inside the abdomen).

Considerations Return to top

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.

Common Causes Return to top

A common type of hernia is an umbilical hernia (located around the belly button). This is caused by failure of the muscular ring around the navel to close completely. Umbilical hernias are more common in babies with a low birth weight, including premature babies. See also gastroschisis.

Incisions (from a previous surgery, for example) can leave the muscles weak in an area, and a hernia can form at the incision site. Incisional hernias may not appear until after straining, heavy lifting, or a prolonged period of coughing.

Home Care Return to top

Umbilical hernias usually heal on their own without treatment, most often by the time the child is 4 years old.

Seek appropriate care for chronic coughs or for constipation if you have a hernia. Straining associated with these conditions causes the intestines to protrude further into the hernia.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

A hernia becomes progressively larger, discolored, or painful.
An umbilical hernia fails to heal by the time the child is 5 years old.
A person with a hernia develops fever, vomiting, abnormal appearance of the hernia, or if the hernia is (or appears to be) painful or tender. A strangulated hernia (one in which the blood supply is lost to the organs that protrude through the hernia) is a medical emergency! (Note: this is very rare with an umbilical hernia.)

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your symptom in detail may include:

Time pattern
- When was the hernia first noticed?
- Is it always there or does the bulge come and go?
Location
- Where is the bulge of the hernia located?
Quality or size
- How big is the hernia? Hint: try to measure the diameter (distance across) or compare to another object (the size of a baseball, for example).
Aggravating factors
- Have you noticed anything that makes the hernia bulge more?
Relieving factors
- Have you noticed anything that makes the hernia bulge less?
Other
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Is there any pain or discomfort, discoloration of the skin, or other symptom associated with the hernia?
- Are accompanying symptoms always there or only sometimes?

The physical examination includes emphasis on examination of the hernia. Several position changes may be required, or the patient may be asked to cough or strain.

Surgery may be needed to correct incisional hernias or umbilical hernias that do not resolve by the time the child approaches school age.

Emergency surgery is needed in the case of a strangulated hernia.

After seeing your health care provider, you may want to add a diagnosis related to a lump in your abdomen to your personal medical record.

Update Date: 10/29/2003

Updated by: Jeffrey Everett, M.D., Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.