The xiphoid process is a tiny bone structure located at the center of the chest, just below the lower part of the sternum. At birth, the xiphoid process is formed from cartilage that eventually develops into bone.

Also What can be mistaken for hernia?

(SLS). Hernias can go misdiagnosed in women, and can instead be thought to be ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, or other abdominal issues, according to the SLS. Women’s hernias can be small and internal. They might not be a bulge that can be felt in an exam or be visible outside the body, according to the SLS.

Subsequently, What organ is directly below the rib cage? Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen.

What does a cancerous lump feel like? Cancerous lumps are usually hard, painless and immovable. Cysts or fatty lumps etc are usually slightly softer to touch and can move around.

What is the lump in my upper abdomen?

What causes an abdominal lump? A person with an abdominal lump may notice an area of swelling or a bulge that protrudes from the abdominal area. Possible causes include hernias, lipomas, hematomas, undescended testicles, and tumors. Not all abdominal lumps require treatment, but some may need surgery.

What can be mistaken for a stomach hernia?

Misdiagnosis of Hiatal Hernia

Angina, a heart condition in which heart muscles don’t get the oxygen they need. Indigestion, which results in burping, vomiting, and heartburn. Biliary colic, in which a gallstone blocks the bile duct. Gastritis, or inflammation in the lining of the stomach.

Is it a hernia or something else?

Hernias are commonly under-pronounced while lying down as there is less pressure on your abdominal wall from your internal organs. Even a lump that doesn’t reduce in size when you lie down could be a hernia, or it could be something else. Both are good reasons to speak to your doctor.

What is a false hernia?

A hernia in which the presenting content cannot be returned to its site of origin, e.g., a hernia in which a segment of intestine cannot be returned to the abdominal cavity. It may produce pain or intestinal obstruction. If left untreated, an incarcerated hernia may cause strangulation of the bowel.

What does pain from the spleen feel like?

Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. It may be tender when you touch the area. This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen.

What does an inflamed liver feel like?

Most people feel it as a dull, throbbing sensation in the upper right abdomen. Liver pain can also feel like a stabbing sensation that takes your breath away. Sometimes this pain is accompanied by swelling, and occasionally people feel radiating liver pain in their back or in their right shoulder blade.

What does it mean when your stomach hurts right below your ribs?

Indigestion

Share on Pinterest Epigastric pain is felt just under the ribcage and is generally not a cause for concern. Indigestion usually occurs after eating. When a person eats something, the stomach produces acid to digest the food. Sometimes, this acid can irritate the lining of the digestive system.

Do cancerous lumps feel smooth?

A tumor won’t be smooth like a cyst. It might be tiny – they’re often felt by a doctor during an exam when they are as small as a half-inch in diameter,” said Tricia Merrigan, MD, breast surgeon with Avera Medical Group Comprehensive Breast Care.

Do tumors hurt to the touch?

They can feel firm or soft. Benign masses are more likely to be painful to the touch, such as with an abscess. Benign tumors also tend to grow more slowly, and many are smaller than 5 cm (2 inches) at their longest point. Sarcomas (cancerous growths) more often are painless.

Are cancerous lumps painful?

Cancer lumps usually don’t hurt. If you have one that doesn’t go away or grows, see your doctor. Night sweats. In middle-aged women, it can be a symptom of menopause, but it’s also a symptom of cancer or an infection.

What causes the upper stomach to bulge?

A person with an abdominal lump may notice an area of swelling or a bulge that protrudes from the abdominal area. Possible causes include hernias, lipomas, hematomas, undescended testicles, and tumors. Not all abdominal lumps require treatment, but some may need surgery.

Why do I feel a hard ball in my stomach?

Most often, a lump in the abdomen is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia occurs when there is a weak spot in the abdominal wall. This allows the internal organs to bulge through the muscles of the abdomen. A hernia may appear after you strain, or lift something heavy, or after a long period of coughing.

What does a tumor in your abdomen feel like?

Symptoms of a tumor in the abdomen may include indigestion and stomach discomfort, bloating after eating, nausea, loss of appetite and heartburn.

How do you confirm a hernia?

Your doctor will check for a bulge in the groin area. Because standing and coughing can make a hernia more prominent, you’ll likely be asked to stand and cough or strain. If the diagnosis isn’t readily apparent, your doctor might order an imaging test, such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.

Is a hernia a hard lump?

It most often feels soft, but it may be firm depending on its underlying cause. In most cases, a lump is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia is when the abdominal cavity structures push through a weakness in your abdominal wall muscles. Usually, this can be easily corrected with surgery.

Can a hiatal hernia be seen on xray?

Most hiatal hernias are found incidentally on routine chest radiographs. The hernia may be seen as a retrocardiac mass with or without an air-fluid level. When air is seen within the hernia, the stomach air bubble found below the diaphragm tends to be absent.

What can be mistaken for a inguinal hernia?

Femoral Hernias. Femoral hernias occur when a bit of tissue bulges through the lower belly and into the upper thigh, in the area just below the groin crease. Femoral hernias are sometimes mistaken for inguinal hernias because they occur in a nearby location.

How do I know if I pulled a muscle or have a hernia?

Physical Lumps and Bumps. When someone experiences a pulled abdominal muscle, there can be inflammation and some swelling, but generally no physically-identifiable marker. A hernia usually causes a noticeable bulge on the surface of the abdomen. This bulge can be painless but change in size with exertion.

Does a hernia hurt if you push on it?

Usually, the bulge is soft enough that you can gently push, or knead, it back into your abdomen (reducible), and it is often not there when you wake up in the morning. Most hernias are not painful. However, sometimes the area around your hernia may be tender and you may feel some sharp twinges or a pulling sensation.