Pelvic Mass

• What is a pelvic mass?

• What are the symptoms?
• How are pelvic masses diagnosed?
• What treatments are available?

What is a pelvic mass?

There are a number of unique tumors that can grow within the pelvis (the very lowest part of
the inside of the torso) that can originate from the pelvic organs (such as rectal tumors,
endometrioma, germ cell tumors and other gynecologic masses). Other masses, called
retrorectal or presacral masses, are congenital abnormalities (such as congenital cysts,
teratoma, duplication of the rectum and anterior sacral meningocele), or tumors (such as
dermoid cysts, chordoma, sarcoma, gastrointestinal stomal tumors (GIST), leiomyomas,
carcinoid and neuogenic tumors).

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What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms related to pelvic mass are pain and change in bowel habits or
continence. Unfortunately, many patients do not experience any symptoms.

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How are pelvic masses diagnosed?

Pelvic masses are usually diagnosed by a combination of history and physical examination,
and radiographic studies such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging
(MR), and ultrasound.

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What treatments are available?

While some of these tumors are proven to be benign (not cancerous) through advanced
imaging and image-guided biopsy, surgical removal is the treatment of choice to establish
diagnosis and/or to relieve symptoms.
Chapter 9. Pelvic Mass

Sections: Pelvic Mass: Introduction, Demographic Factors, Uterus, Ovary,

Torsion of Adnexal Masses, Paraovarian Masses, Fallopian Tube Pathology,
References.

Topics Discussed: pelvic mass.

Excerpt: "Pelvic masses are common clinical findings and may involve the
reproductive organs or nongynecologic structures. They may be identified in
asymptomatic women during routine pelvic examination or may cause
symptoms. Typical complaints include pain, pressure sensations, dysmenorrhea,
or abnormal uterine bleeding. Although most pelvic masses are acquired lesions,
a few arise as congenital anomalies. As a part of evaluation, laboratory tests are
typically uninformative, but levels of serum -human chorionic gonadotropin ( -
hCG) or tumor markers may be helpful. Initially, imaging with sonography is
preferred, but computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging
may be useful if the nature of the mass is still uncertain. Treatment of pelvic
masses varies with patient symptoms, age, and risk factors. Although medical
management is possible for many of these masses, for others, surgical treatment
offers the highest success rates...."

A pelvic mass is an enlargement or swelling in the lower abdomen or pelvic region. Some
people may be able to feel a pelvic mass, however, most are discovered during routine
physical examinations. Masses can cause pelvic inflammation and the swelling may trigger
other symptoms in the body, which may alert the individual that something is wrong. Pelvic
masses can signify the presence of a benign or malignant condition. For this reason, it is
important to have any mass evaluated by a medical professional.

In women, a pelvic mass can indicate an abnormal growth on or within a female reproductive
organ. The growth can be as simple as a benign cyst or as serious as a malignant tumor.
Masses in the pelvic region of a woman can potentially damage the surrounding reproductive
organs by preventing them from functioning properly. For instance, one can impact inner
pelvic structures such as the uterus and the ovaries. Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts are
examples of pelvic masses in the female reproductive system.

What is a pelvic mass?

A mass is medical term for a swelling. It is a non-specific term, applied to a swelling found
during physical examination or during the course of investigation including ultrasound and
radiology (x-ray). The mass may be due to inflammation, (e.g. an abscess) or a tumour, which
can be benign (e.g. a fibroid) or malignant. On occasion, the mass may be present from birth
but is first observed later in life. The kidneys, for example, normally develop as a pair, one on
either side in the area of the loins but one kidney may develop in the pelvis (pelvic kidney).