ABDOMINAL SWELLING, GENERALIZED

Ask the following questions:

1. Is there hepatomegaly? If there is hepatomegaly, one should suspect congestive heart failure, emphysema, constrictive pericarditis, hepatic vein thrombosis, and cirrhosis of the liver.
2. Is there dyspnea or cardiomegaly? If there is dyspnea or cardiomegaly, one should suspect congestive heart failure or emphysema.
3. Is there hypertension or proteinuria? The presence of hypertension or proteinuria should arouse suspicion of nephritis or nephrosis.
4. Is there diffuse abdominal tenderness and rebound? These findings are suggestive of tuberculous peritonitis, ruptured viscus, pancreatic cyst, advanced intestinal obstruction, mesenteric thrombosis or embolism, acute pancreatitis, and ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Routine diagnostic tests include a CBC, sedimentation rate, urinalysis, microscopic examination of the urine sediment, chemistry panel, amylase and lipase, tuberculin test, stool for occult blood, chest x-ray, EKG, and flat plate of the abdomen with lateral decubiti. In women of child-bearing age, a pregnancy test should be done.

The presence of ascites or smaller amounts of fluid can be established by ultrasonography or CT scan. If peritoneal fluid is established, a peritoneal tap is done and the fluid analyzed and cultured. Cultures should be done for both routine and acid-fast bacilli (AFB). The fluid may be spun down and a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear made or cell block study done. Contrast radiographic studies may identify a primary neoplasm or primary source for infection. Gallium scans may be utilized to identify a source of infection. Laparoscopy or exploratory laparotomy are useful in establishing the diagnosis. A general surgeon or gastroenterologist should be consulted early in the diagnostic evaluation.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Enlarged testicle

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Enlarged testicle:

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Enlarged testicle

• Back to symptom: Enlarged testicle: Introduction (review 16 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Enlarged testicle: BONE MASS OR SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Enlarged testicle

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: BONE MASS OR SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• BONE MASS OR SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• FACIAL SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• FEMORAL MASS OR SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• HEAD MASS OR SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• INGUINAL SWELLING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City