The Role of Diagnostic Tests in Identifying the Cause of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can be caused by a wide range of medical conditions. Determining the cause of abdominal pain can be complicated. Diagnostic tests play an important role in identifying the cause of abdominal pain. Dr. Sushil Rattan and Dr. Radman Mostaghim at GI Med Health in Greenbelt, MD, offer comprehensive GI services, including diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain.

What You Need to Know About Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can develop suddenly with little to no warning. Acute abdominal pain can be caused by:

• A kidney, bladder, or urinary tract infection
• Kidney stones
• Gastroenteritis
• Appendicitis
• Diverticulitis
• Pancreatitis
• Peritonitis

Abdominal pain can also develop and become more severe over time. Chronic abdominal pain can be caused by:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Ulcers
• Colitis
• Inguinal or hiatal hernia
• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Hepatitis
• Kidney, gallbladder, liver, stomach, or pancreatic cancer

Diagnostic tests can identify the cause of abdominal pain, so you should seek out the services of your gastroenterologist if you are experiencing abdominal pain that doesn’t resolve, is becoming more severe, or is accompanied by:

• Severe pain or a high fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blood in your stool
• Unexplained rapid weight loss
• Yellowed skin and eyes
• Abdominal swelling

Depending on your symptoms, the gastroenterologist may recommend one or more of these diagnostic tests to identify what is causing your abdominal pain:

• An endoscopy, to view your esophagus and stomach
• A colonoscopy, to view your colon and intestines
• An abdominal ultrasound, to view your abdominal areas

Treatment of abdominal pain will vary, depending on the cause of your abdominal pain. Your gastroenterologist may recommend:

• Antacid medications to reduce stomach acid, if you have GERD
• Antibiotic medications to kill underlying bacteria, if you have an ulcer
• Dietary modifications, if you have Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and other GI conditions
• Surgical treatment, if you have kidney, gallbladder, liver, stomach, or pancreatic cancer

Want To Know More About Abdominal Pain?

To discover more about the role of diagnostic tests in identifying the cause of abdominal pain, call Dr. Sushil Rattan and Dr. Radman Mostaghim at GI Med Health in Greenbelt, MD. You can reach them in the office by calling (301) 982-7900, so call today.