Thoracic causes of acute abdominal pain.
The origin of abdominal pain may be extra-abdominal, caused by a thoracic illness. This article illustrates the various thoracic disorders that may present with acute abdominal pain. An erroneous focus on the abdomen alone can easily lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. In cases of unexplained acute abdominal pain, radiologists should be aware of also viewing beyond the borders of the abdomen. The key to most of these thoracic diagnoses is detection of pulmonary consolidation, pleural fluid or pericardial fluid.
van Breda Vriesman
Adriaan C
AC
Department of Radiology, Rijnland Hospital, Simon Smitweg 1, 2353 GA Leiderdorp, The Netherlands. adriaanbreda@hotmail.com
Smithuis
Robin H M
RH
Puylaert
Julien B C M
JB
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*