Ultrasonographic evaluation of right upper quadrant pain in Emergency Departments

Acute right upper quadrant pain (RUQ) is a common presentation to emergency departments. The American College of Radiology has established ultrasonography as the primary imaging tool in the evaluation of patients presenting with RUQ pain. Hence, understanding sonographic techniques and sonographic appearances of normal gallbladder, gallstones, and acute cholecystitis and their complications are pivotal in the appropriate diagnosis of patients presenting with RUQ pain. Furthermore, an understanding of the role of computed tomography, cholescintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging is beneficial if sonographic findings are inconclusive or require additional problem solving.