Approach to the patient with upper abdominal pain

Abstract

Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for a patient's visit to the physician, and particularly for referral to a gastroenterologist. The evaluation of abdominal pain continues to be clinically challenging. It relies primarily on a thorough history of the pain, in addition to a comprehensive general medical history and physical examination. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for technical diagnostic procedures to exclude etiologies rather than to lead to the correct diagnosis. The main focus of this chapter is the discussion of epigastric and notably right upper quadrant pain of hepatobiliary origin. We do not intend to provide a systematic analysis of all causes of abdominal pain. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.