A hard mass in the left upper abdomen may be a fecal mass, or it may be associated with a lesion such as intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor, malignancy, or enlarged spleen. It is necessary for the patient to confirm the diagnosis of the lesion before treatment.
1. Fecal mass: due to the patient eating some food that is not easy to digest and absorb, the formation of fecal matter blocked in the intestinal tract, which will form a localized hard lump.
2. Intestinal obstruction: related to trauma, inflammation, surgery, diet and other factors, after the occurrence of intestinal obstruction, feces can not pass through smoothly, and hard lumps are formed in the obstructed area. Patients are often accompanied by abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting and other symptoms.
3. Gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor: it is a kind of tumor originated from mesenchymal tissue, which is benign at the early stage and may have malignant tendency with the development of lesions. After the onset of the disease, localized hard lumps may be formed. If the onset area is the stomach or the left side of the abdominal colon, it will be manifested as a hard mass in the left upper abdomen.
4. Malignant tumor: common lesions include gastric cancer, left colon tumor, pancreatic cancer, etc. After the onset of disease, especially in the middle and late stages of the disease process, a large mass will be formed. In the process of physical examination, a hard mass in the left upper abdomen can be touched.
5. Enlarged spleen: patients with liver cirrhosis usually have splenomegaly.
After splenomegaly, due to the increase in the size of the spleen. The mass can usually be palpated in the left upper abdomen. Usually only its lower and right margins can be palpated, while the upper and left margins cannot be palpated because they are behind the ribs. If a patient with cirrhosis develops this condition, it is recommended not to touch it with force, and external impulses must be avoided, as hemorrhage due to splenic rupture may easily occur, which is life-threatening.
The appearance of a hard mass in the left upper abdomen is also seen in other causes, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time, under the guidance of a professional doctor for treatment and medication, so as not to delay the condition.