Is A Lump In The Navel A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Wed, 11 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 11 May 2016 Answered on

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a lump in my belly near my belly button the size of a softball and one the size of a tennis ball higher an more on the left side. they are near incisions where I had surgery. Could it be scare tissue or something worse?

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Scar tissue vs. incisional hernias

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

I am sorry to hear that you are concerned about tow lumps you discovered in your abdominal wall. These could be just scar tissue from your prior surgeries but I am more concerned that they are incisional hernias. This is where the wall of the abdomen is weakened by the surgery and now you have holes in the wall. You can tell if that is happening by pushing in the lumps and if the get smaller or move into the abdominal wall then they are hernias. At this point surgery may not be necessary. If they get bigger or they cause pain then surgery will be need to close the holes.

In summary
1. Possible scars vs hernias
2. If small hernias just observe for now
3. If accompanying pain or discomfort then may need repair.
4. See your medical provider for full examination

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar