Abdominal Pain in the Lateral Abdomen

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Abdominal pain in the lateral regions, also known as flank pain, can be a symptom of various pathologies affecting the organs located in this area, such as the kidneys, colon, and musculoskeletal structures.

This pain can range in intensity and character, from mild discomfort to severe and incapacitating pain. A thorough evaluation is crucial to identify the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment.

Pathology	Symptoms and Clinical Signs	Suspicion Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Kidney Stones	Sharp flank pain, haematuria, nausea, vomiting, dysuria	Clinical history, physical examination, urinalysis	Abdominal CT scan, renal ultrasound
Pyelonephritis	Fever, flank pain, dysuria, nausea, vomiting	Clinical history, physical examination, urinalysis, complete blood count	Urine culture, abdominal CT scan
Hydronephrosis	Flank pain, decreased urine flow, recurrent urinary infections	Clinical history, physical examination, renal ultrasound	Abdominal CT scan, intravenous urography (IVU)
Retrocecal Appendicitis	Right flank pain, nausea, vomiting, fever	Clinical history, physical examination, complete blood count	Abdominal CT scan
Diverticulitis	Left flank pain, fever, changes in bowel habits, nausea	Clinical history, physical examination, complete blood count	Abdominal CT scan, colonoscopy
Renal Neoplasms	Flank pain, haematuria, weight loss, palpable mass	Clinical history, physical examination, urinalysis, complete blood count	Abdominal CT scan, renal biopsy
Urinary Tract Infections	Flank pain, dysuria, urinary urgency, haematuria, fever	Clinical history, physical examination, urinalysis, complete blood count	Urine culture, renal ultrasound
Abdominal Hernias	Pain in the affected area, visible or palpable protrusion, increased pain with exertion	Clinical history, physical examination	Abdominal ultrasound, abdominal CT scan
Musculoskeletal Conditions	Flank pain, tenderness on palpation, increased pain with movement or pressure	Clinical history, physical examination	MRI, X-ray
Inflammatory Bowel Disease	Chronic abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss, fatigue, fever, blood in stool	Clinical history, physical examination, complete blood count, stool analysis	Colonoscopy, intestinal biopsy, abdominal CT scan