W8: Abdominal Masses: Differential Diagnosis & Investigations Flashcards
What are the 6Fs associated with abdominal masses?
- faeces
- farts
- foetus
- fat
- fluid
- fatal growth
What are some associated symptoms that should be considered when taking history with an abdominal mass?
- change in bowel habit
- blood loss
- anorexia
- weight loss
- vomiting
- jaundice
- urinary symptoms
- gynae symptoms
What are three important factors to consider when taking patient history in abdominal mass?
- diabetes
- history of operations
- heart and lung disease
What 3 factors should be checked when examining patient with abdo mass?
- diabetes
- hypertension
- peripheral pulses
What are 4 signs that should be considered when examining patient with abdo mass?
- anaemia
- cyanosis
- jaundice
- lymph nodes
What are you looking out for when examining a patients abdomen with abdo mass?
- shape of mass
- contours of mass
- pulsations
- prominent veins
- scars
- rashes
- jaundice
- ask patient to stand up and cough
What might show up on CXR in patient presenting with abdo mass?
- lung metastases
- free air under diaphragm (pneumoperitoneum)
What might show up on AXR in patient presenting with abdo mass?
- calcification of the aorta
- dilated small bowel loops
- dilated large bowel loops
What tests are useful when investigating an abdominal mass?
- US
- X-ray
- CT +/- biopsy
- sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy/endoscopy +/- biopsy
- ERCP
- laparoscopy +/- biopsy
List some differential diagnosis of abdominal mass.
- malignant growth on liver, kidney, pancreas, gallbladder etc.
- hepatomegaly
- splenomegaly
- diverticular disease
- IBD
- cyst
- AAA
- faeces(in sigmoid)
- hernia
What is the meaning of ballotable?
An intrabdominal mass that can be “bounced” back in forth e.g. often with kidney mass
What is a Sister Mary Joseph Nodule and what does it signify?
- A palpable nodule bulging into the umbilicus
- sign of metastases of metastases of malignant cancer in pelvis/abdo
