central abdominal pain

Last reviewed 01/2018

Causes of central abdominal pain include:

• early appendicitis
• small intestinal obstruction
• acute gastritis
• acute pancreatitis
• ruptured abdominal aneurysm

In isolated central abdominal pain with no other features, it is often best to repeat the examination after two or three hours have passed; by this time other symptoms may have emerged which help the examiner to come to a firm diagnosis.

Rarer causes may include:

• mesenteric thrombosis
• myocardial infaraction