Abdominal masses, as with masses elsewhere, are described using the descriptions of site, shape, size, surface, composition, edge, tenderness, tethering, translucency and pulsation.
Tender masses in the abdomen are very difficult to assess because of the protective guarding of stomach muscles.
To overcome this the examiner's hand should be gently rested on the tender area and gradually pressed a little deeper on each expiration. This should allow the examiner to overcome guarding and feel tender masses well enough to make some assessment of the mass.
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