General information
In medicine, the abdomen is divided into four quadrants, with a vertical and a horizontal line running through the navel region. The upper abdomen is thus divided into the right and left upper abdomen. In addition, the stomach area (epigastrium), in the middle upper abdomen, is often considered separately. It should be noted that it is not always possible to determine the cause of pain with certainty from its localization, since pain radiates from some diseases and each patient perceives pain differently.
Definition
Right-sided upper abdominal pain is defined as permanent or colicky pain in the area of the right upper abdomen. Upper abdominal pain is often reported by patients. They can have a variety of causes.
Causes
In addition to the small intestine ulcer, other diseases of the intestine, such as inflammation and infection, can also be the cause of upper abdominal pain on the right. If pain in the right upper abdomen persists, a cancer of the intestine must always be considered. Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor disease of the intestine.
Most frequently, the tumor disease is localized in the large intestine, but in principle it can occur in all parts of the intestine. Colorectal cancer is the second most common tumor disease after breast cancer (in women) and prostate cancer (in men). Colon cancer often develops on the floor of benign protrusions in the intestinal wall, the so-called polyps, which can be detected and removed during a colonoscopy.
If the polyp is not removed, uncontrolled growth and development of a malignant tumor can occur as a result of various genetic changes. Other factors can promote the development of a malignant tumor. These include obesity, smoking, poor diet, and a family history of cancer.
In many cases the development to a malignant tumor happens very slowly, so that the typical symptoms may be absent. These include blood in the stool, persistent pain or cramps in the upper abdomen, changes in stool habits, as well as unexplained weight loss, fatigue and exhaustion in the later stages. In order to diagnose a cancer of the intestine, a test for blood in the stool, a palpation of the abdomen and a colonoscopy are used.
Treatment of colorectal cancer includes surgical removal of the tumor and, if necessary, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The earlier the tumor is detected and the better the tumor can be removed during surgery, the better the prognosis. Another disease of the liver that can cause upper abdominal pain on the right side is liver cirrhosis.
Liver cirrhosis involves a remodelling of the liver with connective tissue, as the healthy liver cells perish. The damage to the liver cells can be caused by various liver diseases, such as hepatitis and fatty liver, or less frequently by congenital liver diseases. Very common is also the destruction of liver cells by excessive alcohol consumption.
The symptoms of liver cirrhosis can be very variable and range from itching, fatigue, exhaustion, feeling of fullness and upper abdominal pain on the right side to confusion during hepatic coma. Due to the connective tissue remodelling of the liver, it is possible to palpate it hardened during the physical examination. An ultrasound examination of the abdomen, various laboratory tests and a detailed questioning of the affected person by the doctor can also lead to a diagnosis.
The therapy of cirrhosis of the liver depends on the cause and ultimately consists of avoiding the liver-damaging substances, such as alcohol or medication. However, cirrhosis can only be cured with a liver transplant. Furthermore, many organs that are not located in the right upper abdomen can still cause pain in the right upper abdomen. These include, for example, the stomach and the pancreas, which are located more in the left upper abdomen, but can cause pain to radiate to the right upper abdomen in the event of illness. In addition, structures outside the abdominal cavity, such as the diaphragm, the heart and the spine, can show pathological changes, which also manifest themselves in upper abdominal pain on the right.
