Note the location, quality, radiation, severity, and timing of the discomfort: Right upper quadrant discomfort suggests cholecystitis (check the Murphy sign), hepatitis, passive congestion, or ...

In this Journal feature, information about a real patient is presented in stages (boldface type) to an expert clinician, who responds to the information by sharing relevant background and reasoning ...

Physical examination should be used to first identify unstable patients who need immediate attention. 1 Vital signs and body weight should be measured. Dehydration is common because of diarrhea, which ...

Rebound tenderness refers to pain that occurs immediately after pressure is released from the abdomen. It may be a sign of peritonitis, which requires medical treatment. Rebound tenderness is ...

We instinctively shield our abdomen when we are physically threatened, and we may feel vulnerable when someone puts his or her hand on our bare abdomen. Therefore, with an abdominal examination the ...