Many organs, including the liver, gallbladder and intestines crowd into the upper right quadrant, and disease in nearby organs such as the stomach and pancreas can also cause pain that radiates to the upper right quadrant. Upper right quadrant pain should not be ignored, since it can indicate serious disease.
Gallbladder Disease
The gallbladder lies directly under the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen. Gallstones, also known as cholelithiasis, are frequently found in the gallbladder but rarely cause symptoms. However, if stones move into the bile duct and block bile flow, gallbladder inflammation occurs. Right upper quadrant pain, often severe, plus low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting may indicate cholecystitis. Perforation occurs in 10 percent of cases, and 1 percent of patients develop peritonitis, with high fever, chills and increasing abdominal pain, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Gallbladder cancer can also cause right upper quadrant pain.
Liver Disease
The liver lies in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. A number of liver diseases can cause right upper quadrant pain, such as an enlarged fatty liver, liver cancer, liver abscess or acute hepatitis. Budd-Chiari syndrome, blood clots that block the veins that carry blood from the liver to the inferior vena cava, can also cause right upper quadrant pain.
Stomach Causes
Diseases of the stomach can cause pain that radiates to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Gastritis--stomach inflammation--can be an acute or chronic disease. Pain may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and appetite loss. Peptic ulcers can also cause gnawing pain anywhere between the navel and the breastbone. Pain often occurs between meals or in the night. Ulcers can perforate, causing bleeding and intensifying pain. Stomach cancer can also cause right abdominal pain.
Pancreatic Causes
The pancreas, which lies below the liver and behind the stomach, releases enzyme that aid in digestion and also produces insulin, necessary for absorbing glucose into cells and tissue. Diseases of the pancreas that can cause right upper quadrant pain include pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States according to Lab Tests Online. Acute or chronic pancreatitis can also lead to right upper quadrant pain. Acute pancreatitis causes severe pain and can lead to internal bleeding and infection.
Pulmonary Causes
Lung disease such as pneumonia--infection in the lung--and pleurisy--inflammation of the lining of the lungs--can cause upper right quadrant abdominal pain.
