Lumps: Abdominal

Feeling a lump anywhere in the abdomen from the bottom of the rib cage to the groin can signal a health concern. Lumps in this area develop for many reasons.

Common causes of abdominal lumps are:

• hernia, which is an organ or tissue that bulges out from a weak section of muscle

• cysts, which are growths within, or just below, the skin

• swollen intestine (such as Crohn's disease)

• aneurysm, where a section of a wall of an artery balloons out

• infections (such as an abscess, swollen lymph glands, or chronic appendicitis)

• growths caused by cancer

• constipated colon or

• a very full bladder

Associated symptoms may include:

• pain

• prolonged constipation

• black, tarry, or bright red bleeding with stools or

• bloating

Be sure to seek medical evaluation for any unusual lumps you find. Treatment for harmful lumps is more likely to be successful when they are checked early.

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