common causes of lower abdominal pain? What organ systems are commonly involved? Pain in the lower quadrants can be due to a number of causes from multiple organ systems. • Gastrointestinal—diverticulitis (classically left sided), appendicitis (classically right sided), infectious, ischemic or inflammatory colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) • Genitourinary—ureteral or kidney stones, pyelonephritis, ovarian or testicular torsion, …
common causes of left upper quadrant pain, and which abdominal organs are often involved • Spleen—splenic infarct, splenomegaly, splenic abscess • Stomach—peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, gastric outlet obstruction, gastroparesis • Pancreas—pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocyst • Small bowel—obstruction, ileus, inflammatory bowel disease
Common gastrointestinal causes of pain in the right upper quadrant • Biliary colic • Acute and chronic cholecystitis • Gallstone ileus • Acute hepatitis • Hepatic infarct • Hepatic abscess • Hepatic mass
Can the location of abdominal pain be useful in determining the cause of the pain? The location of abdominal pain can be very helpful in determining the cause of the pain. The abdomen can be easily divided into four quadrants—right upper, right lower, left upper, and left lower. Focal abdominal pain is often related to …
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Diagnostic considerations in women with abdominal pain A full history and physical is required of all women with lower abdominal pain, including a detailed sexual and menstrual history, pelvic examination, and pregnancy test (for women of childbearing age). Diagnostic considerations include pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, uterine obstruction, ovarian cyst torsion, ovulatory pain (mittelschmerz), …
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Well recognized thoracic disorders that can present as abdominal pain Thoracic disorders that can cause abdominal pain include: • Myocardial infarction or ischemia • Myocarditis • Pneumonia • Emphysema • Pulmonary embolism • Pneumothorax • Esophagitis
Can abdominal pain be caused by extra abdominal disorders? Pain felt in the abdomen can be generated by distant structures. Just as abdominal pathology can cause pain to be referred elsewhere in the body, irritation of distant structures can cause pain to be referred to the abdomen. For example, pathology of the thoracic vertebra can …
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