DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Liver pain

Why: to determine if pain is acute or chronic.

Why: To determine if the pain is diffuse or focal.

Why: e.g. increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B and C infection, cirrhosis of the liver and hemochromatosis; Budd-Chiari syndrome may be caused by polycythaemia rubra vera, leukemia, renal cancer, hepatocellular cancer or hydatid cyst; right heart failure may occur in association with left heart failure, chronic lung disease, pulmonary embolism, tricuspid valve disease and right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Why: e.g. androgenic steroids and the contraceptive pill may be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma; contraceptive pill increases the risk of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Why: to establish risk of liver disease.

Why: to determine risk of hepatitis B infection that can cause tender liver.

Why: to determine if travel is to areas with an increased risk of Hepatitis A infection, yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever, Ebola virus, Marberg virus.

Why: increase the risk of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection that can cause tender liver.

Why: e.g. exposure to hazards or animals (e.g. toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis, Q fever which can cause hepatitis with a tender liver).

Why: would suggest hepatitis. May also occur with hepatic abscess.

Why: would suggest viral hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, leptospirosis, hepatic vein thrombosis, liver abscess and toxic hepatitis.

Why: e.g. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, headache, malaise, distaste for cigarettes, mild fever, upper abdominal discomfort, jaundice, dark urine, pale stools. May have a transient rash and joint pain.

Why: e.g. weight loss, reduced appetite, fever, ache in the right upper abdomen, generalized abdominal distention (ascites).

Why: e.g. fatigue, breathlessness, reduced appetite and nausea. May also have tender enlarged liver, ankle edema (swelling) and ascites (accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity).

Why: e.g. abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tender enlarged liver, ascites (accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity).

Why: e.g. fever, chills, reduced appetite, vomiting, weight loss, right sided upper abdominal pain and tender liver. There may be jaundice.