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Evaluating the Patient with Left Lower Quadrant Abdominal Pain.

Nicholas A Bodmer¹, Kiran H Thakrar²

¹Department of Radiology, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, 3815 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.

Radiologic Clinics of North America

|November 4, 2015

Summary

Left lower quadrant pain often requires emergency imaging. Computed tomography is the preferred method for diagnosing common causes like diverticulitis and urolithiasis.

Keywords:

Colitis Diverticulitis Epiploic appendagitis Rectus sheath hematoma Retroperitoneal hematoma Stercoral perforation Urolithiasis

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Area of Science:

Radiology
Emergency Medicine
Gastroenterology

Background:

Left lower quadrant pain is a common emergency department presentation.
Colonic pathology is the most frequent source of this pain.

Purpose of the Study:

To review common causes of left lower quadrant pain in the emergency setting.
To highlight the role of computed tomography in diagnosis.

Main Methods:

Review of common causes of left lower quadrant pain.
Emphasis on imaging modalities, particularly computed tomography.

Main Results:

Diverticulitis, colitis, fecal impaction, and epiploic appendagitis are frequent colonic causes.
Left-sided urolithiasis and spontaneous hemorrhage are other significant causes.
Computed tomography is the optimal emergent imaging modality.

Conclusions:

Prompt diagnosis of left lower quadrant pain is crucial.
Computed tomography is essential for evaluating emergent causes of left lower quadrant pain.