Evaluation of abdominal pain based on location

Right upper quadrant Cholecystitis/ Cholelithiasis- RUQ tenderness, pain radiates to right infrascapular region, also midepigastric.	Left upper quadrant Pancreatitis- radiates to the back, abdominal distention, diminished bowel sounds, diffuse rebound tenderness
Right lower quadrant Appendicitis-guarding and rebound tenderness Ectopic pregnancy- tender adnexa, vaginal bleeding Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)- diarrhea, weight loss, rectal bleeding, fever Intestinal obstruction- hyperactive, high pitched bowel sounds or hypoactive bowel sounds Salpingitis- tender adnexa and cervix, cervical motion tenderness. Urinary stones- flank pain radiating to groin. Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness, hematuria	Left lower quadrant Diverticulitis- LLQ mass, mild tenderness in left iliac fossa Ectopic pregnancy- tender adnexa, vaginal bleeding Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)- diarrhea, weight loss, rectal bleeding, fever Intestinal obstruction- hyperactive, high pitched bowel sounds or hypoactive bowel sounds Irritable bowel- colon tender to palpation Salpingitis- tender adnexa and cervix, cervical motion tenderness. Urinary stones- flank pain radiating to groin. Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness, hematuria
Epigastric Gastritis- constant burning GERD (epigastric, retrosternal pain)- burning intermittent Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)- pain radiates to the back, right shoulder or sides. Epigastric tenderness to palpation.	Diffuse Gastroenteritis (diffuse)- hyperactive bowel sounds Dissection or rupture of aortic aneurysm- chest, abdomen and lower back pain. Hypotension, feeling of doom, shock. Intestinal perforation- decreased bowel sounds, guarding, rebound tenderness Mesenteric infarction-diminished bowel sounds, hypotension, tachycardia

Reference
Dunphy, L.M., Winland-Brown, J.E., Porter, B.O. & Thomas, D.J. (2015). Primary Care: The Art and Science of Advanced Practice Nursing, 4th Edition, Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company (From NUR7033)