Abdomen - swollen 10/09/2008
Swollen belly; Swelling in the abdomen; Abdominal distention; Distended abdomen
Considerations: Abdominal 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 also cause distention.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm 12/07/2006
Aneurysm - aortic
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm include: High blood pressure Smoking High cholesterol Obesity Emphysema Genetic factors Male gender An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop in anyone, but it is most frequently seen in males over 60 with one or more risk factors.
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 .
Abdominal CT scan 01/24/2007
An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography. See also: CT scan
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.
Abdominal exploration 10/16/2006
Laparotomy; Exploratory laparotomy
Description: The abdomen contains many organs: Stomach Small intestine (jejunum and ileum) Large intestine (colon) Liver Spleen Gallbladder Pancreas Uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries (in women) Kidneys, ureters, and bladder Some problems inside the abdomen can be easily diagnosed with imaging tests such as x-rays and CT scans , but many problems require surgery to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
Abdominal film 05/17/2007
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.
Abdominal mass 07/17/2007
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 4 areas: right-upper quadrant, left-upper quadrant, right-lower quadrant, and left-lower quadrant.
Abdominal MRI 01/24/2007
Nuclear magnetic resonance - abdomen; NMR - abdomen; Magnetic resonance imaging - abdomen; MRI of the abdomen
How the test is performed: You will be asked to lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-like tube. The health care provider may inject a dye through one of your veins.
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.
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).
