Abdominal enlargement

Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Overview
Sudden or progressive enlargement of the abdomen. Localized or generalized, intermittent or persistent.

Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Abdominal Enlargement
Updated 10th of September 2008

Abdominal mass (localized abdominal enlargement, swelling)


 * Abdominal aortic aneurysm
 * Bladder distension
 * Bowel obstruction
 * Cholecystitis
 * Colon cancer
 * Crohn’s disease
 * Diverticulitis
 * Gallbladder tumor
 * Hepatomegaly
 * Hydronephrosis
 * Kidney cancer
 * Liver cancer
 * Neuroblastoma
 * Ovarian cyst
 * Pancreatic abscess
 * Pancreatic pseudocyst
 * Splenomegaly
 * Stomach cancer
 * Ureteropelvic junction obstruction
 * Uterine leiomyoma (fibroids)
 * Volvulus
 * Normal child (the stomach of a child protrudes more than adults)
 * Gas
 * Swallowed air
 * Pregnancy
 * Obesity
 * Constipation
 * Chronic constipation
 * Poor muscle tone (Muscle weakness)
 * Poor muscle tone after childbirth
 * Lactose intolerance
 * Food allergies
 * Food intolerances
 * Pregnancy
 * Hernia
 * Malabsorption
 * Irritable bowel syndrome
 * Colonic bacterial fermentation
 * Intestinal motility disorders
 * Gastroparesis
 * Diabetic gastroparesis


 * Gas entrapment syndromes
 * Splenic flexure
 * Hepatic flexure
 * Premenstrual syndrome
 * Pancreatic disease
 * Acute pancreatitis
 * Appendicitis
 * Biliary disease
 * Gallbladder disease
 * Other gallbladder conditions
 * Gallstones


 * Short bowel syndrome
 * Peptic ulcer
 * Ascites
 * Malignant ascites
 * Intestinal obstruction - causing gas or fluid buildup
 * Partial bowel obstructions
 * Small bowel diverticulum
 * Intestinal adhesions
 * Intermittent bowel obstruction
 * Volvulus


 * Colon cancer
 * Diverticulitis
 * Diverticulosis
 * Ulcerative colitis
 * Pseudopsiesis
 * Liver disease
 * Certain heart conditions
 * Heart failure
 * Constrictive pericarditis


 * Abdominal mass
 * Certain types of tumors or cancers
 * Abdominal tumor
 * Gastrointestinal tumor
 * Abdominal cancer
 * Bowel cancer
 * Ovarian cancer
 * Lymphoma


 * Fibroids
 * Ovarian cystadenoma
 * Perforated viscus
 * Some causes of abdominal distention of infants or children include:
 * Normal infant pot belly
 * Premature delivery
 * Starvation
 * Constipation
 * Cystic fibrosis
 * Celiac disease
 * Hirschsprung's disease


 * Subcutaneous lipoma
 * Dercum's disease
 * Adiposa dolorosa
 * Malignant fibrosarcoma
 * Malignant melanoma
 * Inflammation of abdominal wall
 * Volvulus of the sigmoid colon
 * Chronic large bowel obstruction
 * Megacolon
 * Dynamic ileus
 * Advanced pyloric stenosis
 * Acute gastric dilatation
 * Congestive heart failure
 * Cirrhosis
 * Nephrotic syndrome
 * Carcinomatosis peritonei
 * Tuberculous peritonitis
 * Severe chronic constipation
 * Malignant peritoneal disease
 * Pseudomyxoma peritonei
 * Encysted ascites
 * Hydatid cysts
 * Subphrenic abscess
 * Pus accumulation from a ruptured appendix
 * Pus accumulation from a ruptured duodenal ulcer
 * Perforation of inflamed diverticulum
 * Carcinoma of sigmoid colon
 * Pelvic abscess
 * Gangrenous appendicitis
 * Gynecological infection
 * Pelvic surgery
 * Peritonitis