title: Acute abdominal pain: a diagnostic approach.
abstract: The author presents a diagnostic approach to the problem of acute abdominal pain in adults. The typical pain patterns for the various causes are outlined with the aid of illustrations. A systematic method is necessary to make reasonably accurate provisional diagnoses. A summary of possible investigations is included for each condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murtagh
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003085:Colic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D010808:Physical Examination; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis