Evaluation of acute abdomen

Last reviewed: 6 Nov 2023
Last updated: 17 Oct 2023

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Adhesions
  • Incarcerated/strangulated hernia
  • Cholecystitis
  • Perforated gastric ulcer
  • Appendicitis
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Acute diverticulitis
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn disease
  • Cholelithiasis
  • Gastrointestinal malignancy
  • Mallory-Weiss tear
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Opioid withdrawal
  • Hepatitis
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Infectious colitis
  • Sickle cell crisis
  • Endometriosis
  • Testicular torsion
  • Kidney stones
  • Pyelonephritis
Full details

Uncommon

  • Volvulus
  • Intussusception
  • Perforated duodenal ulcer
  • Ruptured ovarian cyst
  • Ovarian torsion
  • Abdominal aortic dissection
  • Ruptured aortic aneurysm
  • Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and infarction
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Meckel diverticulitis
  • Hepatic abscess
  • Psoas abscess
  • Tuberculosis
  • Esophageal perforation (Boerhaave syndrome)
  • Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome
  • Ischemic colitis
  • Ruptured splenic artery aneurysm
  • Budd-Chiari syndrome
  • Splenic infarct
  • Abdominal wall hematoma
  • Uremia
  • Addisonian crisis
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP)
  • Hereditary Mediterranean fever
  • Typhlitis (neutropenic enterocolitis)
  • Radiation enteritis
  • Heavy metal poisoning
  • Spider bite
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Charles A. Leath III, MD, MSPH, FACS

Professor, Ellen Gregg Shook Culverhouse Chair in Gynecologic Oncology

Division of Gynecologic Oncology

The University of Alabama

Birmingham

AL

Disclosures

CAL has served on advisory boards for Celsion and Mateon Therapeutics. CAL has received grants from the National Institutes of Health and has performed contracted research for the following: AbbVie, Agenus, AstraZeneca, Celsion, Immunogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche/Genentech, Syros, and Tesaro. He has served as a consultant and/or on scientific advisory boards for AbbVie, Clovis Oncology, Eisai, Syros, and Unleash Immuno Oncolytics.

Neil T. Phippen, MD

Assistant professor

Gynaecological oncology

Brooke Army Medical Center

San Antonio

TX

Disclosures

NTP declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Charles A. Leath III and Dr Neil T. Phippen would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr William J. Lowery, Dr Aaron W. Campbell and Dr Jin H. Ra, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

WJL has participated in a speakers' bureau for AstraZeneca to discuss Lynparza for ovarian cancer. AWC and JHR declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

William Winter, MD

Staff

Gynecologic Oncologist

Northwest Cancer Specialists

Rose Quarter Cancer Center

Portland

OR

Disclosures

WW declares that he has no competing interests.

Michaela West, MD, PhD

Professor and Vice Chair

UCSF Department of Surgery

Chief of Surgery

San Francisco General Hospital

San Francisco

CA

Disclosures

None declared.

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