Large lump in stomach, can move it - what can this be?

[dyhwen]

I'm a 44 year old healthy female, 5'3" 115lbs and I recently noticed a large mass in my stomach.  

It's located on my upper right quadrant, just an inch or so northwest of my belly button.  I only notice it when I lay on my back with my legs and hips tilted to the left, the position I read in.  

In this position, it pops out slightly around the midline area and I can push it all the way over to my far right side where it hides under the edge of my ribs and then I can dig it out and shoot it back.

It feels to be about 2.5 inches around, not sure how deep it is, sometimes I think it's disk shaped but other times it feels quite deep, like a ball.  It seems smooth, not lumpy.  

What might this be?

Thanks!  

When I stand I can't find it although I am quite slender in this area.  I do feel a kind of pressure and soreness around it but this may be because I've been playing with it and moving it around.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Imaging the area should be done to exclude cancer.  An ultrasound or CT scan would be the appropriate tests to consider.

In the right upper quadrant, the liver or gallbladder needs to be examined.  If the mass is more midline, an abdominal hernia can be considered.

These options can be evaluated further with the aforementioned imaging studies.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com