Gallstone disease differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Overview

Gallstone disease must be differentiated from other diseases that cause right upper quadrant pain including gastroesophageal reflux disorder, peptic ulcer disease,hepatitis,sphincter of Oddi dysfunction,appendicitis, bile duct stricture, chronic pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, ischemic heart disease, pyelonephritis, ureteral calculi and complications of gallstone disease include: acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, acute pancreatitis, and acute cholangitis.

Differentiating Gallstone disease from other Diseases

• Gallstone disease can manifest in a variety of clinical forms.
• The presence of biliary colic is an important diagnostic feature to distinguish between gallstones and non-biliary stone disorders.
• Patients who present with biliary colic are more likely to have gallstones detected on imaging.
• However, it is important to note that biliary colic can be concomitant in patients with other biliary disorders such as acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, and functional gallbladder disorder.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of diseases presenting with abdominal pain, fever and jaundice is discussed below.

Abbreviations: RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram

Classification of pain in the abdomen based on etiology Disease Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Comments Symptoms Signs Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Jaundice Diarrhea GI Bleed Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Abdominal causes Inflammatory causes Pancreato-biliary disorders Acute suppurative cholangitis RUQ + + + − − + + + N Abnormal LFT WBC >10,000 Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor Septic shock occurs with features of SIRS Acute cholangitis RUQ + − + − − − − − N Abnormal LFT Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor Biliary drainage (ERCP) + IV antibiotics Acute cholecystitis RUQ + − + − − − − − Hypoactive Hyperbilirubinemia Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows gallstone and evidence of inflammation Murphy’s sign Acute pancreatitis Epigastric + − ± − − ± + + N Increased amylase / lipase Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation CT scan shows severity of pancreatitis Pain radiation to back Primary sclerosing cholangitis RUQ + − + − − − − − N Increased liver enzymes Increased IgM, IgG4 Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) Anti-smooth muscle antibody (Anti-Sm) Anti-endothelial antibody Anti-cardiolipin antibody ERCP and MRCP shows Multiple segmental strictures Mural irregularities Biliary dilatation and diverticula Distortion of biliary tree The risk of cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis is 400 times higher than the risk in the general population. Cholelithiasis RUQ/Epigastric ± − ± − − − − − Normal to hyperactive for dislodged stone Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows gallstone Fatty food intolerance Gastric causes Gastrointestinal perforation Diffuse + ± ± − +, depends on site + + ± Hyperactive/hypoactive WBC> 10,000 Air under diaphragm in upright CXR Hamman's sign Intestinal causes Inflammatory bowel disease Diffuse ± − ± ± Hematochezia − − − Normal/ Hyperactive Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P-ANCA) in Ulcerative colitis Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in Crohn's disease String sign on abdominal x-ray in Crohn's disease Extra intestinal findings: Uveitis Arthritis Whipple's disease Diffuse ± − ± + − ± − − Normal Thrombocytopenia Hypoalbuminemia Small intestinal biopsy for Tropheryma whipplei Endoscopy is used to confirm diagnosis. Images used to find complications Chest and joint x-ray CT MRI Echocardiography Extra intestinal findings: Uveitis Endocarditis Encephalitis Dementia Hepatosplenomegaly Arthritis Ascites Hepatic causes Viral hepatitis RUQ + − + + in Hep A and Hep E − + in fulminant hepatitis +in acute + Normal Abnormal LFTs Viral serology Ultrasound Hep Aand Hep E have fecoral route of transmission and Hep B and Hep C transmits via blood transfusion and sexual contact. Liver masses RUQ + + in Liver abscess ± − + in Hepatocellular carcinoma + in sepsis + in Liver abscess + in Liver abscess Normal CBC LFTs Ultrasound Liver abscess RUQ + + + ± - + + ± Normal/hypoactive CBC Blood cultures Abnormal liver function tests Ultrasound CT Hepatocellular carcinoma/Metastasis RUQ + - + - - - - - Normal Hyperactive if obstruction present High levels of AFP in serum Abnormal liver function tests Ultrasound CT Liver biopsy Other symptoms: Splenomegaly Variceal bleeding Ascites Spider nevi Asterixis Budd-Chiari syndrome RUQ ± − ± − + in liver failure leading to varices − − − Normal Elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels may be more than five times the upper limit of the normal range. Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels, decreased serum albumin level. Findings on CT scan suggestive of Budd-Chiari syndrome include: Early enhancement of the caudate lobe and central liver around the inferior vena cava Delayed enhancement of the peripheral liver with accompanying central low density (flip-flop appearance) Peripheral zones of the liver show reversed portal venous blood flow In the chronic phase, there is caudate lobe enlargement and atrophy of the peripheral liver in affected areas Ascitic fluid examination shows: Total protein more than 2.5 g per deciliter White blood cells are usually less than 500/μL. Peritoneal causes Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis Diffuse + + + in cirrhotic patients + − ± + + Hypoactive Ascitic fluid PMN>250 cells/mm³ Culture: Positive for single organism Ultrasound for evaluation of liver cirrhosis

To review a differential diagnosis for abdominal pain, click here