Abdominal Masses

A. True. The fetal stomach contains fluid and if the baby has recently swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid, it may be quite distended. You should assess its position on the left side of the abdomen, just under the diaphragm.

B. False. The gall bladder does contain fluid but unless it is abnormally dilated, it is usually very small.

C. False. The normal ovary does not contain fluid, although ovarian cysts do occur and may present as a cystic mass.

D. Possibly. Later in pregnancy, in the third trimester, the gut may contain enough fluid to be visible. You should be sure that this is a normal amount.

If in doubt, refer the patient to a specialist centre.

E. True. The fetal bladder should be seen in all babies and can appear quite large. However, it will usually empty if you watch the baby for long enough.

Top

You Might Also Like