When I touch my stomach, I feel something.?: A Guide to Abdominal Masses

According to Healthline, hernias are a frequent cause of abdominal lumps. If you find yourself asking, "When I touch my stomach, I feel something.?", it's important to understand the various potential causes and how to proceed responsibly with your health concerns.

Quick Summary

This guide explains the possible reasons for feeling a mass when touching your stomach, from common conditions like hernias and benign fatty lumps to more serious issues. It details diagnostic steps and highlights critical symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention.

Key Points

• Diverse Causes: An abdominal mass can be caused by benign conditions like hernias, lipomas, or cysts, as well as more serious issues such as tumors, abscesses, or aneurysms.

• Medical Evaluation is Key: Self-diagnosis is not recommended; a professional medical evaluation is necessary to accurately determine the cause of an abdominal mass.

• Common Diagnosis Methods: Doctors use physical exams, imaging tests like ultrasound and CT scans, and sometimes biopsies to diagnose an abdominal mass.

• Red Flag Symptoms: Seek immediate medical care for a pulsating mass, rapid growth, severe pain, fever, or vomiting, as these can indicate a medical emergency.

• Individualized Treatment: Treatment depends on the underlying cause and can range from watchful waiting to medication, surgery, or other specialized therapies.

Understanding the Causes of an Abdominal Mass

Discovering a lump or mass in your abdomen can be an unsettling experience. The abdomen houses many organs, including the stomach, liver, intestines, and reproductive organs, so a mass in this area can stem from a wide range of issues. While many causes are benign and harmless, a professional medical evaluation is always the most prudent course of action to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

Common Benign Causes

Many abdominal masses are non-cancerous and may not pose a serious health threat, although they should still be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Some of the most frequently diagnosed benign causes include:

• Hernias: One of the most common causes of a palpable abdominal lump is a hernia. This occurs when a part of an internal organ, like the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall. Common types include:
  • Inguinal hernia: Appears as a bulge in the groin area.
  • Umbilical hernia: Located around the navel or belly button.
  • Incisional hernia: Can occur at the site of a previous surgical incision.
• Lipomas: A lipoma is a slow-growing, soft, and movable lump made of fatty tissue. They can appear anywhere on the body, including the abdomen, and are almost always harmless. They often feel rubbery to the touch and can be removed if they are bothersome.
• Cysts: Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can develop in or on various abdominal organs, such as the ovaries or kidneys. Ovarian cysts, in particular, can sometimes be large enough to be felt through the abdominal wall.
• Hematomas: A collection of blood under the skin caused by a broken blood vessel, typically after an injury. If it occurs in the abdominal wall, it can create a noticeable bulge.
• Uterine Fibroids: These are non-cancerous growths of the uterus that are very common and can sometimes cause a palpable lump in the lower abdomen, especially if they are large.

More Serious Considerations

While less common, some masses require more urgent medical attention. It is crucial to be aware of these and to seek prompt medical care if they are suspected.

• Tumors: An abdominal lump can be a tumor, which may be benign or malignant (cancerous). Tumors can develop on organs such as the stomach, colon, liver, or kidneys. An evaluation, including imaging tests and potentially a biopsy, is necessary to determine the nature of the growth.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): A weakened, bulging area in the aorta (the body's largest artery) can sometimes be felt as a pulsating mass in the abdomen. This is a serious medical emergency, and any pulsating lump accompanied by severe abdominal pain warrants immediate medical help.
• Enlarged Organs: Conditions leading to an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) or liver (hepatomegaly) can result in a noticeable abdominal bulge. These conditions can stem from infections, liver disease, or cancer.
• Abscesses: An abdominal abscess is a pocket of pus caused by an infection. These can form after surgery or due to other infections and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The Diagnostic Process: What to Expect

When you see a healthcare provider for an abdominal mass, they will typically follow a structured process to determine the cause. This begins with a thorough physical examination and medical history.

• Physical Examination: The doctor will palpate (press on) different areas of your abdomen to assess the mass's size, location, texture, and mobility. They will also check for tenderness and other associated signs. They may ask you to perform maneuvers, such as lifting your head or coughing, to help differentiate between an abdominal wall mass and an intra-abdominal one.
• Imaging Tests: Based on the physical exam, imaging tests are often ordered to get a clearer picture of the mass.
  • Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to create images and is useful for differentiating between fluid-filled cysts and solid masses.
  • CT Scan: Provides detailed cross-sectional images of the abdominal organs and can help determine the size and location of the mass.
  • MRI: Offers very high soft-tissue contrast, which is excellent for visualizing abdominal wall masses and distinguishing between different types of lesions.
• Other Tests: Blood tests may be performed to check for infection, inflammation, or abnormal hormone levels. In some cases, a biopsy—where a tissue sample is taken for laboratory analysis—may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis, especially if a tumor is suspected.

Treatment Options

Treatment for an abdominal mass depends entirely on the underlying cause. Some benign conditions may not require any treatment, while others are managed with medication or surgery. For example, a doctor might recommend monitoring a slow-growing lipoma, but a large hernia causing discomfort would likely require surgical repair. Malignant tumors often necessitate more aggressive treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Benign vs. Potentially Malignant Abdominal Masses

Characteristic	Benign Mass	Potentially Malignant Mass
Growth Rate	Typically slow-growing.	Can grow rapidly.
Spread	Does not spread to other body parts.	Can metastasize (spread) through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Borders	Tend to have well-defined, clear boundaries.	Often have irregular or poorly defined borders.
Mobility	May feel mobile and movable under the skin.	Can become fixed and immobile as it invades surrounding tissue.
Associated Symptoms	Often asymptomatic, or mild, localized pain.	Can be accompanied by fever, persistent pain, unexplained weight loss, or changes in bowel habits.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While a lump can be harmless, it is never advisable to self-diagnose. You should make an appointment to see a healthcare provider if you notice any new or unexplained mass in your abdomen. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• The mass is pulsating or growing rapidly.
• You experience severe, persistent abdominal pain.
• The mass is accompanied by a fever or vomiting.
• There are significant, unexplained changes in your bowel habits or appetite.
• You have bloating or abdominal swelling along with the mass.

Conclusion

Feeling an abdominal mass can be alarming, but it's important to remember that many potential causes are benign. From common conditions like hernias and fatty lipomas to more complex issues, a lump requires a professional medical evaluation for accurate diagnosis. A healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and may order imaging tests to determine the cause and recommend the right course of action. Early diagnosis ensures timely and effective treatment, so do not hesitate to seek medical advice if you notice a new or concerning lump. For further reading on abdominal masses and related symptoms, visit the Cleveland Clinic's health library.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cause of a lump in the abdomen?

Hernias are a very common cause of abdominal lumps, occurring when internal tissue pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Lipomas, which are benign fatty lumps, are also frequently found.

How can I tell if an abdominal mass is serious?

Key indicators of a potentially serious abdominal mass include rapid growth, severe pain, pulsating sensation, or accompanying symptoms like fever, vomiting, and unexplained weight loss. Any new mass should be medically evaluated.

Can stress cause an abdominal mass?

Stress does not directly cause an abdominal mass. However, stress can exacerbate digestive issues or conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which might cause bloating or discomfort, though not a firm mass.

Will a doctor order imaging tests for an abdominal mass?

Yes, after a physical examination, a doctor will likely order imaging tests like an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to get a detailed view of the mass and determine its size, location, and composition.

Is a fatty lump on my stomach cancerous?

A fatty lump, or lipoma, is almost always benign (non-cancerous). While a doctor can usually identify a lipoma with a physical exam, a biopsy might be needed to confirm the diagnosis if there is any uncertainty.

What should I do if a lump in my stomach is pulsating?

If you feel a pulsating lump in your abdomen, especially if it is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, you should seek immediate medical care. This could be a sign of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a life-threatening condition.

How do doctors differentiate between an abdominal wall mass and an intra-abdominal mass?

Doctors can differentiate by having a patient tense their abdominal muscles. An abdominal wall mass will become more prominent, while an intra-abdominal mass will become less prominent or disappear as the tense muscles protect it.