Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) Pain Conditions and Symptoms

Steady RUQ pain often after a fatty meal, fever, nausea, vomiting, positive Murphy's sign (pain during inhalation when pressing on the RUQ)

Cholecystitis

RUQ discomfort, fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), dark urine, pale stools, nausea, vomiting

Hepatitis

Burning epigastric pain related to meals, nausea

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

Sudden severe abdominal pain, signs of peritonitis (rigid abdomen, tenderness), possible shoulder pain from diaphragmatic irritation

Perforated Ulcer

Severe epigastric pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, fever

Pancreatitis

Dull RUQ pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice, abdominal swelling

Liver Tumors

Epigastric discomfort or pain, nausea, vomiting

Gastritis

RUQ pain, fever, chills, weight loss, malaise

Hepatic Abscess

RUQ pain, jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, itching, elevated liver enzymes

Choledocholithiasis

Fever with chills, jaundice, RUQ pain (Charcot's triad); may progress to hypotension and altered mental status (Reynolds' pentad)

Cholangitis

Flank pain (may present as RUQ pain), fever, chills, painful urination, frequent urination, cloudy urine

Pyelonephritis

Sharp flank pain radiating to the groin, blood in urine (hematuria), nausea, vomiting, restlessness

Nephrolithiasis

RLQ pain shifting to RUQ due to enlarged uterus, nausea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite

Appendicitis (during pregnancy)

Sharp chest or RUQ pain worsened by breathing or coughing, fever, cough, shortness of breath

Thoracic Causes (pleurisy, pneumonia)

Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain (may feel like RUQ pain), rapid heart rate, coughing (may produce blood), anxiety

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Sharp chest pain that improves when sitting up and leaning forward, fever, palpitations, shortness of breath

Pericarditis

Chest discomfort or pain (may present as RUQ pain), nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath

Myocardial Infarction (inferior MI)