How to differentiate between stomach disease and cholecystitis
Disease description:
I've had stomach pain after eating for the past few days. I thought it was gastric pain caused by irregular eating habits. Recently, the pain has become more severe, so I went for a checkup and the doctor diagnosed me with cholecystitis. I'd like to know how to differentiate between stomach problems and cholecystitis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhao Haiming
The abdominal pain associated with gastritis is generally located in the upper middle or slightly left region of the abdomen, whereas pain from cholecystitis typically occurs in the right upper quadrant and is usually more severe than that of gastritis. Patients with cholecystitis may also experience radiating pain to the right shoulder and back, a symptom not commonly seen in gastritis. Diagnostic tests such as liver and gallbladder ultrasound, gastroscopy, and CT scan of the upper abdomen should be performed to differentiate between these two conditions and identify the underlying cause of the upper abdominal discomfort.
