Right upper quadrant pain

The right upper quadrant is the part of the abdomen just below the right ribs. It sits over several important organs — chiefly the liver and the gallbladder, but also part of the bowel and, just above, the base of the right lung. So pain here can arise from any of these. The commonest causes relate to the gallbladder and liver. Gallstones can cause a characteristic pain (biliary colic) after fatty meals, and if a stone blocks the gallbladder and it becomes inflamed or infected (cholecystitis), the pain becomes constant and is often accompanied by fever. Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis, from viruses, alcohol or other causes) can cause a duller ache or discomfort in this area, sometimes with jaundice. Other causes include a stretched or congested liver (as in heart failure), problems of the bile ducts, a stomach or duodenal ulcer, and referred pain from the lung base (such as pneumonia) or even the muscles and ribs. The character of the pain, and what comes with it — meals, fever, jaundice, nausea — help point to the cause. Persistent, severe, or accompanied pain warrants proper evaluation.

• Gallstones (biliary colic) — pain after fatty meals, often coming in waves.
• Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) — constant pain, often with fever; a blocked, infected gallbladder.
• Hepatitis — liver inflammation (viral, alcohol-related or other); a duller ache, sometimes with jaundice.
• A congested or stretched liver — as in heart failure.
• Bile duct problems — a blockage or infection.
• Stomach or duodenal ulcer.
• Referred pain from the right lung base — such as pneumonia.
• Muscle or rib pain from the chest wall.

The cause of right upper quadrant pain is worked out from the story and examination, supported by tests. Blood tests focus on the liver and biliary system: liver enzymes (ALT, AST), the bile-related enzymes (ALP, GGT), bilirubin (raised in blockage or liver problems, causing jaundice), and a full blood count and inflammatory markers if infection is suspected. If gallstones or gallbladder inflammation are likely, an ultrasound scan is the key test. If hepatitis is suspected, viral hepatitis tests are added. An amylase or lipase checks for the pancreas. Mediora.AI can surface a liver-and-bile pattern — raised liver enzymes, a high bilirubin, or inflammation — that points toward the cause, but right upper quadrant pain, especially if severe or with fever or jaundice, needs in-person assessment and often imaging, arranged by your doctor.