[Patient with right-sided epigastric pain and "negative" ultrasound]

Praxis (Bern 1994). 1998 Nov 11;87(46):1563-70.
[Article in German]

Abstract

In most cases pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant is of biliary origin. Diseases of the biliary system are often visualized by ultrasonography; however, a negative test does not rule out a biliary cause. Moreover, a number of several non-biliary diseases have to be considered. Patient history, physical examination and laboratory findings determine the further diagnostic approach and include radiologic (i.e. CT/scintigraphy) and/or endoscopic (upper GI endoscopy, ERCP) examinations. In difficult diagnostic situations specialized diagnostic tools may be indicated (e.g. manometry in suspected dysfunction sphincter of the Oddi.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology*
  • Cholelithiasis / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Ultrasonography*