Common causes

Condition Clinical features Investigations

• oesophageal retrosternal pain endoscopy, spasm oesophageal manometry
• reflux retrosternal pain endoscopy, oesophagitis flatulence, barium swallow, pH dyspepsia monitoring
• peptic ulcer, epigastric pain gastroscopy, barium gastritis related to food, meal weight loss
• biliary colic severe RUQ or LFTs, US, ERCP epigastric pain
• pancreatitis severe epigastric amylase +++, US, pain radiating to CT scan abdomen the back
• irritable abdominal pain + negative bowel syndrome diarrhoea and/or investigations constipation, tenesmus, abdominal bloating
• hepatitis RUQ pain, jaundice, LFTs, US, liver lethargy biopsy, serology
• Crohn's colicky pain, barium enema, disease diarrhoea, weight loss colonoscopy
• ulcerative bloody diarrhoea sigmoidoscopy / colitis colonoscopy, barium enema with biopsy
• diverticulitis "left sided barium enema, appendicitis", WCC++ bleeding PR
• renal colic loin pain that abdominal x-ray, radiates to groin, IVU haematuria
• cystitis dysuria, suprapubic urine microscopy pain and culture
• pyelonephritis fever, loin pain, AXR, MSU, IVU +/- haematuria