Retroperitoneal Mass: Medical History

The medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal mass.

Family history

Social history

  • What is your occupation?
  • Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?

Current medical history/systemic medical history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • What changes have you noticed?
  • How long have these changes existed?
  • Did the swelling/spatial changes occur suddenly?
  • Do you have abdominal pain?
  • Do you have flank pain?
  • Have you experienced symptoms such as premature feeling of fullness, bloating, nausea and vomiting and/or new onset of constipation?
  • Do you need to urinate more frequently or have a strong urge to urinate?
  • Is the swelling variable (possibly increasing and then decreasing) or increasing?

Vegetative history including nutritional history.

  • Have you lost body weight unintentionally in the recent past? If so, how many kilograms in what time?
  • Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
  • Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol more often? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses of it per day?
  • Do you use drugs? If yes, which drugs and how often per day or per week?
  • When was your last menstrual period? Is your menstruation regular?
  • Have your bowel movements and/or urination changed in frequency, consistency, color, etc.?

Self history including medication history.

  • Previous diseases (tumor diseases)
  • Surgery (abdominal or pelvic surgery).
  • Radiotherapy
  • Vaccination status
  • Allergies
  • Pregnancies
  • Environmental history
  • Medication history