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right upper quadrant pain
Etiology:
1) hepatobiliary disease
a) hepatitis
b) hepatic abscess
c) cholecystitis
- acalculous cholecystitis due to critical illness
d) cholangitis
e) sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
2) other (see abdominal pain)
Special laboratory:
- RUQ abdominal ultrasound
- repeat RUQ abdominal ultrasound even if done a week prior if acalculous cholecystitis due to critcal illness suspected [1]
- endoscopic ultrasound takes longer than RUQ abdominal ultrasound [1]
Radiology:
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography if ultrasound is not diagnostic [2]
Notes:
- visceral pain localizes poorly in the abdomen
- consider all possible sources of abdominal pain
Related
right upper quadrant
General
abdominal pain
References
- NEJM Knowledge+ Gastroenterology
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 16, 18, 19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2012, 2018, 2021.