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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 a disorder of the underlying organ. Individuals may manifest pain differently, however, so it is important to keep a broad differential.
Abdominal Pain by Location
| RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT | LEFT UPPER QUADRANT |
|---|---|
| Biliary colic Cholecystitis—acute or chronic Hepatic distension or inflammation Hepatic infarct or abscess Right lower lobe pneumonia Myocardial infarction | Splenic infarct, abscess, or rupture Gastric ulcer Gastric outlet obstruction Pancreatitis or pancreatic pseudocyst Small bowel obstruction Left lower lobe pneumonia Myocardial infarction |
| RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT | LEFT LOWER QUADRANT |
| Appendicitis Infectious, inflammatory, or ischemic colitis Irritable bowel syndrome Ectopic pregnancy Tuboovarian disorders Pyelonephritis Renal stones | DiverticulitisInfectious, inflammatory, or ischemic colitis Irritable bowel syndrome Ectopic pregnancy Tuboovarian disorders Pyelonephritis Renal stones |
