left upper quadrant pain

Etiology

• gastritis*
• peptic ulcer*
• pancreatitis*
• ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
• splenic infarct
• mesenteric ischemia
• referred pain from
  • pneumonia
  • myocardial infarction
  • pulmonary embolism
• other (see abdominal pain)

* gastritis & peptic ulcer do not present as acute pain

* nephrolithiasis presents as flank pain or lower quadrant pain

Clinical manifestations

• nausea, vomiting
• diaphoresis

Laboratory

• complete blood count
• comprehensive metabolic panel
• serum lipase & serum amylase
• cardiac enzymes: serum troponin-I

Diagnostic procedures

• electrocardiogram
• cardiac stress testing (acute)
• upper GI endoscopy (chronic)

Radiology

• abdominal ultrasound
• abdominal CT

Notes

• visceral pain localizes poorly in the abdomen
• consider all possible sources of abdominal pain

More general terms

• abdominal pain

Additional terms

• left upper quadrant