title: Is it acute cholecystitis?
abstract: In a prospective study of 100 patients presenting with acute right hypochondrial pain and diagnosed clinically by a qualified surgeon as having acute cholecystitis, we have shown that the diagnostic error can be considerable. Twenty-five of these patients were found to have a different diagnosis on subsequent investigation and in a further 11 patients, no definite diagnosis could be established. This emphasises the need for careful investigation of patients with this presenting complaint.
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology