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Ultrasound says hernia, surgeon says no
I am seeking advice. I have had a small lump on my abdomen for as long as I can remember, but recently it started becoming more painful and I have been having issues with nausea. The lump is approximately 1 cm in diameter and is about 2 inches below my navel, midline. My doctor suggested it was an odd place for a hernia, and thought it may be urachal cyst. I had an ultrasound done, and the radiology report said I had a hernia, with 4.6 cm of bowels coming through! This seemed large to me since I could only feel a cm wide lump. I then went to a surgeon. Upon abdominal exam, surgeon said it was a weird place for a hernia or a urachal cyst. He was fairly adamant that the lump did not feel like a hernia and suggested he could just do a small incision and remove the lump. But suggested I should have a CT scan which would give me a definitive answer. Will the CT scan give a definitive answer though? Anyone have a similar experience or any advice?
I am a 30 year old female, not overweight about 5’3″ and 125 lbs
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5 Replies
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US says hernia, surgeon says no
Thank you so much for your responses, Dr. Towfigh. Makes me feel a lot better.
1. No previous abdominal surgeries. Definitely have been told multiple that hernias do not present in that location, and was surprised when the US report said I had one!
2. I have my CT scan scheduled for Tuesday morning and am very curious to see if it agrees with US diagnosis…feeling anxious and want to know what this painful lump is and if I can get rid of it/feel better!With respect to the diastasis recti, the lump is always present, even when lying down, and can’t be pushed in, so not sure…
Thanks for your perspective. The surgeon could definitely feel the lump and asked me some questions about. He did suggest lipoma, but then I told him it was quite painful and he said that was unusual for a lipoma. I guess when I heard the US diagnosis, I thought, “Okay, I have a hernia then, that’s that” and didn’t realize the surgeon may need additional info. But I certainly agree that I want him to have as much of a roadmap as possible, especially if this might require surgery.
Thanks again!
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US says hernia, surgeon says no
Just to give some perspective as a surgeon: your surgeon is not necessarily saying that you don’t have a lump or you don’t have a hernia. your surgeon is just saying that there is not enough information for him/her to operate yet. A better clearer roadmap of the problem, the area, and therefore the best plan of care, is necessary.
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US says hernia, surgeon says no
Just to give some perspective as a surgeon: your surgeon is not necessarily saying that you don’t have a lump or you don’t have a hernia. your surgeon is just saying that there is not enough information for him/her to operate yet. A better clearer roadmap of the problem, the area, and therefore the best plan of care, is necessary.
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US says hernia, surgeon says no
1. Agree that 2 inches below the belly button is not where hernias naturally occur. Did you have any incision in that place? That is the only way that you can get a hernia there.
2. The ultrasound, if positive (i.e., shows a hernia), is usually correct. However, visually, it is hard to grasp by most physicians. CT scan is much more intuitive and a better roadmap for most surgeons.Since the clinical situation doesn’t make anatomical sense, I agree that a CT may be helpful. I wonder if you have a wide diastasis recti and this is what is bulging at times.
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US says hernia, surgeon says no
I just don’t understand why the surgeon would be so dismissive of the ultrasound report. He just did not believe what it said. Am I missing something on the accuracy of ultrasounds or what?
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