The abdominal region consists of all the organs found between the chest and the pelvis. With so many organs in the abdomen, including the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, appendix, kidneys and spleen, many conditions can cause abdominal pain. To accurately diagnose the cause of the pain, doctors ask patients to describe the location of the pain. Pain in the right upper quadrant can have several causes.
Gallstones
The gallbladder, a small organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, functions to store bile produced by the liver. Bile is a liquid substance made of cholesterol, water, fats, bile salts, proteins and bilirubin---a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells. The gallbladder releases bile into the common bile duct for transfer to the small intestine where it helps in digestion.
Gallstones form when substances, such as cholesterol, contained in the liquid bile crystallize into tiny stones. Although not everyone with gallstones will experience symptoms, if a stone escapes from the gallbladder and enters a duct, the duct can become blocked interfering with the normal flow of bile. This can result in pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, which rapidly intensifies and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer occurs when liver cells grow out of control, forming a tumor in the liver, which is found in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Although liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, incidence of primary liver cancer in the United States is low, according to MayoClinic.com. Liver cancer can cause right upper wuandrant pain, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas, classified as a gland, is located in the abdomen between the stomach and the spine. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, a hormone required to breakdown glucose to use for energy, and pancreatic enzymes to aid in digestion. Because pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is difficult to detect, it is a leading cause of cancer death, according to MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include pain in the upper right abdomen, jaundice, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and vomiting.
