Gastrointestinal issues are among the leading causes of abdominal pain. Abdominal pain can indicate problems with the stomach, small and large intestines, gallbladder and liver and is often the first symptom of a number of serious conditions including Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and various intra-abdominal cancers. Abdominal pain is notoriously difficult to localize and diagnose and in addition to gastrointestinal problems can be caused by urological, gynecological, autoimmune and surgical issues. Gastroenterologists are frequently the first to evaluate symptoms of abdominal pain and are a good starting point for establishing a diagnosis and creating a treatment plan.

The following tests are used to evaluate the cause of abdominal pain:

• Clinical evaluation
• Laboratory testing
• Upper Endoscopy (EGD): A small, flexible tube with a camera is passed into the esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine. Damage to the lining of these structures can be evaluated; A small sample of tissue (biopsy) is taken.
• Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. It is often used to evaluate organs in the abdominal cavity.
• CT scan: A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around the body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images (slices) of the tissues of interest. These images can be used to evaluate organs in the abdominal cavity.
• Colonoscopy: A small, flexible tube with a camera is passed through the anus into the rectum and large intestine. Damage to the lining of these structures can be evaluated; and a small sample of tissue (biopsy) can be taken.

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