What might cause a lump under the rib cage?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 27 years old, and I have been dealing with a lump under my left rib cage that is visible. Alongside this, I have been experiencing constant nausea, dizziness, and stomach pain for several years. I have been diagnosed twice with gastritis in the past. As for my medical history, I had Hodgkin lymphoma and completed it 11 years ago.

Kindly guide.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Everything appears normal based on the ultrasound images (attachments were removed to protect the patient's identity).

Given the palpable lump under your left rib cage as per your history, I suggest a CT (computerized tomography) scan for further characterization.

A CT scan would help in the following ways:

Determine the composition of the lump (e.g., bone, fat, fluid, solid tissue, vascular, etc.).
Measure its size.
Assess its extent.
Identify whether there are other lumps elsewhere in the body.

Ultrasound does not provide clear images of bones or lumps near bones due to the inability of ultrasound waves to penetrate hard tissues like bones, resulting in shadows. In such cases, a CT scan is preferred for better clarity.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.