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Abdomen - swollen 11/16/2008
Swollen belly; Swelling in the abdomen; Abdominal distention; Distended abdomen Considerations: Abdominal swelling, or distention, is a common condition, which usually results from over-eating, rather than from a serious illness. Simple weight gain , premenstrual syndrome (PMS) , pregnancy, or the unconscious swallowing of air can lead to this problem. Abdominal distention is often due to gas in the intestines. |
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm 08/28/2008
Aneurysm - aortic Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm include: Emphysema Genetic factors High blood pressure High cholesterol Obesity Male gender Smoking An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop in anyone, but is most often seen in males over 60 who have one or more risk factors. |
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Abdominal bloating 03/08/2008
Bloating; Meteorism Considerations: Common Causes: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Constipation Excess gas in the bowel Irritable bowel syndrome Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances Overeating Partial bowel obstruction Small bowel bacterial overgrowth Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include ascites and tumors, such as those arising from ovarian cancer . |
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Abdominal CT scan 02/23/2009
CT of the abdomen How the test is performed: You will be asked to lie on a narrow table that slides into the center of the CT scanner. Usually, you will lie on your back with your arms raised above the head. The health care provider may inject a dye into one of your veins. This helps certain diseases and organs show up better on the images. |
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Abdominal exploration 10/20/2008
Laparotomy; Exploratory laparotomy Description: An abdominal exploration (laparotomy) is done while you are under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep and feel no pain during the procedure. The surgeon makes a cut into the abdomen and examines the abdominal organs. |
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Abdominal film 02/22/2009
Abdominal x-ray; X-ray - abdomen; Flat plate; KUB How the test is performed: The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an x-ray technologist. You lie on your back on the x-ray table. The x-ray machine is positioned over your abdominal area. You hold your breath as the picture is taken so that the picture will not be blurry. You may be asked to change position to the side or to stand up for additional pictures. |
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Abdominal mass 11/16/2008
Mass in the abdomen Considerations: An abdominal mass is usually detected on routine physical examination . Most of the time they develop slowly. You may not be able to feel the mass. Where the pain occurs helps the doctor make a diagnosis. For example, the abdomen is usually divided into four areas: Right-upper quadrant Left-upper quadrant Right-lower quadrant Left-lower quadrant Other terms used to specify the location of abdominal pain or masses include: Epigastric -- center of the abdomen just below the ribcage Periumbilical -- the area around the bellybutton The location of the mass, and its firmness, texture, and other qualities can provide clues as to the cause of an abdominal mass. |
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Abdominal MRI scan 02/23/2009
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the abdomen is a noninvasive method to create detailed pictures of the inside of the belly area. Unlike x-rays and computed tomographic ( CT ) scans, which use radiation, MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves. The MRI scanner contains the magnet. The magnetic field produced by an MRI is about 10 thousand times greater than the earth's. The magnetic field forces hydrogen atoms in the body to line up in a certain way (similar to how the needle on a compass moves when you hold it near a magnet). |
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Abdominal pain 04/25/2008
Stomach pain; Pain - abdomen; Belly ache; Abdominal cramps Considerations: There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including: Organs related to digestion -- the end of the esophagus, the stomach, the small and large intestines, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas. |
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Abdominal pain diagnosis 04/25/2008
Abdominal pain can represent many different types of problems besides a simple stomachache. It can even be due to pain in the pelvis (such as menstrual cramps), back (such as kidney stones ), or chest (such as a heart attack or heartburn). Your doctor will ask you specific questions to help determine the cause of your abdominal pain: What makes it feel worse? What makes it feel better? When did it begin? How long does it last when you have it? Is the pain constant or does it come and go? What does the pain feel like? Is it sharp, dull, or crampy? Do you also have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or blood in your stool? Two common conditions that you may worry about if you have abdominal pain are appendicitis or an ulcer . |
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