10 Side Effects of CT Scans
Side Effect #9: Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a common symptom that has serious and nonserious causes. The commonest causes include irritable bowel syndrome and gastroenteritis. Approximately 10 percent of patients with abdominal pain will have more serious causes such as diverticulitis, appendicitis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and ectopic pregnancy.
Since the abdomen can be divided into nine regions: right hypochondria, epigastric, left hypochondria, left lumbar, umbilical, right lumbar, right iliac, suprapubic, and left iliac regions, pain felt at different regions of the abdomen provides important clues regarding the underlying cause. Abdominal pain can occur when an abdominal CT scan with barium contrast is performed.
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