Retroperitoneal liposarcoma
Retroperitoneal liposarcoma is a malignant tumour of fat cells arising in the space behind the abdominal cavity. It is the commonest retroperitoneal sarcoma.
Adhesions and adhesive bowel obstruction
Adhesions are bands of fibrous tissue that form between surfaces inside the abdomen that should normally slide freely over one another.
Intra-abdominal abscess
An intra-abdominal abscess is a walled-off collection of pus within the abdomen.
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity.
Primary peritoneal cancer
Primary peritoneal cancer is a malignancy arising from the peritoneal lining itself, without an identifiable tumour in the ovaries or anywhere else.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer arising from the mesothelial cells that line the abdominal cavity.
Pseudomyxoma peritonei
Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare condition in which mucus-producing tumour cells spread throughout the abdominal cavity and fill it progressively with…
Peritoneal metastases
Peritoneal metastases are deposits of cancer on the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Rare hernias — Spigelian, lumbar, obturator and others
Beyond the familiar groin, umbilical and incisional hernias lies a group of uncommon hernias that share one important characteristic: they are difficult…
Diastasis recti (divarication of the recti)
Diastasis recti is a widening of the gap between the two rectus abdominis muscles, caused by stretching and thinning of the fibrous tissue that joins them.
Parastomal hernia
A parastomal hernia is a hernia through the abdominal wall defect created for a stoma.
Incisional hernia
An incisional hernia is a hernia through the scar of a previous operation.
Epigastric hernia
An epigastric hernia occurs through the midline of the abdominal wall between the navel and the breastbone.
Umbilical and paraumbilical hernia
An umbilical hernia is a protrusion through the natural weakness at the navel.
Femoral hernia
A femoral hernia is a protrusion of abdominal contents through the femoral canal, just below the groin crease.
Inguinal hernia (groin hernia)
An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of abdominal contents through a weakness in the groin.
Hereditary bowel cancer syndromes (Lynch syndrome and FAP)
Most bowel cancer is not inherited.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is the commonest surgical emergency of the abdomen. Roughly one person in fifteen develops it during their lifetime.