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Pulsatility

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Often a lump pulsates - however this is generally because it lies near to an artery. The examiner must deduce whether the pulsations are due to the lump itself or being transmitted from an artery elsewhere. If a finger is put on each side of the lump and are 'pushed apart' by the lump then this is clinical evidence for the lump itself to be pulsatile. If the pulsations are being transmitted through the lump from a different source, then the examiners' fingers will be pushed in one direction (often upwards).

The most common causes of vascular lumps are:- - aneurysms - very vascular tumours

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