Abdominal pain is discomfort localized to the region between the chest and the pelvis and is one of the most frequent presenting complaints in clinical practice, with causes ranging from benign and self-limiting to immediately life-threatening. It is classified by mechanism into visceral pain, arising from distensio…
Abdominal pain is discomfort localized to the region between the chest and the pelvis and is one of the most frequent presenting complaints in clinical practice, with causes ranging from benign and self-limiting to immediately life-threatening. It is classified by mechanism into visceral pain, arising from distension or ischemia of hollow or solid organs and typically poorly localized; parietal or somatic pain, originating in the peritoneum and more sharply defined; and referred pain perceived at a site distant from its source. The differential diagnosis is broad, encompassing gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, urological, gynecological, vascular, and surgical conditions, as well as functional disorders, and acute presentations such as obstruction, perforation, volvulus, and organ rupture demand prompt evaluation. Diagnosis integrates history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and imaging to identify the underlying cause and determine whether medical or surgical management is required. Themes in the associated literature include clinical gastroenterological manifestations and surgical correction of digestive-system reflux, hepatic and renal cystic disease, gastrointestinal disease in children, intestinal malrotation, superior mesenteric artery syndrome, small-bowel volvulus during pregnancy, spontaneous bladder rupture, and the relationship between food intake and musculoskeletal pain. Related work addresses somatic complaints and their emotional and parental correlates. This journal publishes peer-reviewed research relevant to the evaluation and management of abdominal pain and its gastrointestinal and surgical causes.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 30 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Abdominal Pain, linking to each citing work.