Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Iqra Qamar M.D.[2]Amandeep Singh M.D.[3]
Abbreviations:
RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram
Disease
|
Clinical manifestations
|
Diagnosis
|
Comments
|
Symptoms
|
Signs
|
Abdominal Pain
|
Fever
|
Rigors and chills
|
Nausea or vomiting
|
Jaundice
|
Constipation
|
Diarrhea
|
Weight loss
|
GI bleeding
|
Hypo-
tension
|
Guarding
|
Rebound Tenderness
|
Bowel sounds
|
Lab Findings
|
Imaging
|
Peptic ulcer disease
|
Diffuse
|
±
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
|
Positive if perforated
|
Positive if perforated
|
Positive if perforated
|
N
|
- Ascitic fluid
- LDH > serum LDH
- Glucose < 50mg/dl
- Total protein > 1g/dl
|
|
|
Gastritis
|
Epigastric
|
±
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
Positive in chronic gastritis
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
|
|
Inflammatory bowel disease
|
Diffuse
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
±
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
Normal or hyperactive
|
|
|
Extra intestinal findings:
|
Whipple's disease
|
Diffuse
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
±
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
−
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
Endoscopy is used to confirm diagnosis.
Images used to find complications
|
Extra intestinal findings:
|
Disease
|
Abdominal Pain
|
Fever
|
Rigors and chills
|
Nausea or vomiting
|
Jaundice
|
Constipation
|
Diarrhea
|
Weight loss
|
GI bleeding
|
Hypo-
tension
|
Guarding
|
Rebound Tenderness
|
Bowel sounds
|
Lab Findings
|
Imaging
|
Comments
|
Tropical sprue
|
Diffuse
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
Barium studies:
- Dilation and edema of mucosal folds
|
|
Viral hepatitis
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
−
|
Positive in Hep A and E
|
+
|
−
|
Positive in fulminant hepatitis
|
Positive in acute
|
+
|
N
|
- Abnormal LFTs
- Viral serology
|
|
- Hep A and E have fecal-oral route of transmission
- Hep B and C transmits via blood transfusion and sexual contact.
|
Liver abscess
|
RUQ
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
−
|
±
|
+
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
±
|
Normal or hypoactive
|
|
|
|
Hepatocellular carcinoma/Metastasis
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
- Normal
- Hyperactive if obstruction present
|
|
|
Other symptoms:
|
Small bowel obstruction
|
Diffuse
|
+
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
±
|
Hyperactive then absent
|
|
Abdominal X ray
- Dilated loops of bowel with air fluid levels
- Gasless abdomen
|
- "Target sign"– , indicative of intussusception
- Venous cut-off sign" – suggests thrombosis
|
Disease
|
Abdominal Pain
|
Fever
|
Rigors and chills
|
Nausea or vomiting
|
Jaundice
|
Constipation
|
Diarrhea
|
Weight loss
|
GI bleeding
|
Hypo-
tension
|
Guarding
|
Rebound Tenderness
|
Bowel sounds
|
Lab Findings
|
Imaging
|
Comments
|
Mesenteric ischemia
|
Periumbilical
|
Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous
|
Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous
|
−
|
Hyperactive to absent
|
|
CT angiography
|
- Also known as abdominal angina that worsens with eating
|
Acute ischemic colitis
|
Diffuse
|
+
|
±
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Hyperactive then absent
|
|
Abdominal x-ray
- Distension and pneumatosis
CT scan
- Double halo appearance, thumbprinting
- Thickening of bowel
|
|
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
|
Diffuse
|
±
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
- Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
|
|
Pleural empyema
|
RUQ/Epigastric
|
+
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
Chest X-ray
|
Physical examination
|
|