According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, abdominal pain may be caused by any of the organs within the abdominal cavity. The location of abdominal pain--the abdominal quadrant in which the pain is felt--often helps physicians determine the cause of the pain. The NIH states that a person should seek immediate medical assistance if he experiences abdominal pain that is sudden and sharp, abdominal pain that is accompanied by chest pain and an abdomen that is stiff and tender to the touch.
Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is a large organ that's situated in the abdomen, behind the stomach. Although pancreatic cancer can cause intense upper right quadrant abdominal pain, this pain often manifests late in the disease process, which means that the disease is usually more advanced when it's discovered. Common signs and symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer include the following: upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back, abdominal pain that worsens as the disease progresses, abdominal cramps of varying intensity, dark urine, pale stools, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, weakness, fatigue, anorexia or loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss. According to the NCI, conventional medical treatment for pancreatic cancer involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The National Cancer Institute--a division of the National Institutes of Health--states that there are numerous risk factors that may contribute to pancreatic cancer, including a history of tobacco smoke consumption, diabetes, a family history of pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas and excessive body weight
Stomach Cancer
The Mayo Clinic website states that stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, usually manifests in the mucus-producing cells lining the inside of the stomach. This type of stomach cancer is called adenocarcinoma, and it is the most common type of stomach cancer. Common symptoms associated with stomach cancer include the following: fatigue, post-meal bloating, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and unexplained weight loss. The Mayo Clinic website notes that although physicians and researchers are not sure what causes stomach cancer, dietary factors may play a role, including regular consumption of smoked, salted and pickled foods.
Gallstones
Gallstones can cause intense upper right quadrant abdominal pain. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK--a division of the National Institutes of Health--gallstones can obstruct the normal flow of bile if they lodge in one of the ducts that transport bile from the liver to the small intestine. Possible blockage sites include the hepatic, cystic and common bile ducts. The NIDDK states that numerous risk factors may contribute to gallstone formation, including a family history of gallstones, being a woman, being overweight, losing weight too quickly, being over 60 years of age, taking certain cholesterol-reducing medications and having diabetes. Common symptoms associated with gallstones include the following: steady pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, parascapular pain or pain between the shoulder blades, nausea and vomiting, jaundice and a low-grade fever.
