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the important organs that are the sites of origin of epigastric pain (Table 11). Anatomy, therefore, is the basic science used to develop this differential diagnosis. ABDOMINAL PAIN, EPIGASTRIC
Vascular
Inflammator y
Intoxicatio n Idiopathic
Skin
Herpes zoster
Cellulitis
Trichinosis
Gastritis Stomac
Carcinoma Atrophic
Gastritis
gastritis
Ulcer
Sarcoma
Ulcer
Syphilis
Duoden um
Ulcer
Ulcer
Ileitis
Carcinoma
Colitis
Sarcoma
Parasites
Pancrea s
Pancreatitis
Pancreatic carcinoma
Pancreatit is
Lymph
Mesenteric
Hodgkin
Nodes
adenitis
disease
Lymphosarco ma
Blood Vessels
Aortic aneurysm
Abdominal angina
Nerves
Herpes zoster
Lead colic
Arachnidis m
Thoracic Spine
Tuberculosi s
Osteoporo sis
Osteomyeliti s
Arthritis
Local Referred
Hepatic carcinoma
Myocardia
Cholecystiti
l infarction
Pyelonephri tis
Systemi c Referred
Pulmonary embolism
Pneumonia
Endometriosis
Epilepsy
Electrolyte imbalance
The skin may be the site of the pain in herpes zoster, as it is in other types of pain, although it is less likely to be midline. Cellulitis and other lesions of the skin will be readily apparent. However, muscle and fascial conditions may be missed if one does not specifically think of this layer. Thus, epigastric hernia, hiatal hernia, or contusion of the muscle will be missed, as will diaphragmatic abscesses and trichinosis of the diaphragm.
The stomach and duodenum are the next organs encountered; both are prominent causes of epigastric pain. Ulcers, especially perforated ulcers, cause severe pain. Gastritis (syphilitic, toxic, or atrophic) causes a milder form of pain. Pyloric stenosis (from whatever cause), cascade stomach, diverticula, and carcinoma or sarcoma round out the differential diagnosis here. Good collateral circulation makes vascular occlusion a less likely cause.
The colon and small intestines lie just below the stomach, so one must not forget ileitis, colitis (ulcerative or granulomatous), appendicitis, diverticulitis, Meckel diverticulum, and transverse colon carcinoma that ulcerates through the wall. Intestinal parasites and mesenteric thrombosis are additional causes that originate here. The various forms of intestinal obstruction are more important than parasites and mesenteric thrombosis.
The pancreas sits at the next layer, and acute pancreatitis is a particularly severe form of epigastric pain. Chronic pancreatitis, carcinoma, cysts of the pancreas, and mucoviscidosis cause less severe forms of epigastric pain. The lymph nodes may be involved by Hodgkin disease and lymphosarcoma, leading to intestinal obstruction, but mesenteric adenitis is a much more likely cause. When the retroperitoneal nodes are involved by neoplasms (e.g., sarcoma), the pain is usually referred to the back.
The blood vessels are contained in the next layer, and one is reminded of aortic aneurysm, abdominal angina, periarteritis nodosa, and other forms of vasculitis. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves are involved by lead colic, porphyria, and black widow spider venom. Conditions of the thoracic spine are present in the final layer. Cord tumor, tuberculosis, herniated disc, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid spondylitis can all lead to midepigastric pain.
Omission of the systemic diseases and diseases of other abdominal organs that sometimes cause epigastric pain is inexcusable. Pneumonia, myocardial infarction (inferior wall, particularly), rheumatic fever, epilepsy, and migraine are just a few systemic conditions that are associated with epigastric or generalized abdominal pain. Cholecystitis, hepatitis, and pyelonephritis are some local diseases that also produce midepigastric or generalized abdominal pain, which is why the target system has a useful application here. The center circle of the
target is the stomach, the pancreas, and other organs in Table 11. The next circle covers the liver, kidney, gallbladder, heart, and ovaries. A further circle covers the brain and the testicles.