Lump in the abdomen

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Infant abdominal hernia (gastroschisis)

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

Abdominal hernia; Hernia - abdominal; Abdominal wall defects; Lump in the abdominal wall; Abdominal wall mass

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. This allows the internal organs to bulge through the abdominal wall. A hernia may not appear until after you strain, lift something heavy, or have a prolonged period of coughing.

There are several types of hernias, based on where they occur:

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• Inguinal hernia appears as a bulge in the groin or scrotum. This type is more common in men than women.
• Incisional hernia can occur through a scar if you have had abdominal surgery.
• Umbilical hernia appears as a bulge around the belly button. It occurs when the muscle around the navel doesn't close completely.

Other causes of the lump in the abdominal wall include:

• Hematoma (collection of blood under the skin after trauma)
• Lymph nodes
• Lipoma (collection of fatty tissue under the skin)
• Undescended testicle
• Tumor of the skin or muscles

Review Date: 08/21/2009
Reviewed By: James Lee, MD, Department of Surgery, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).