Abdominal Wall Pain Differential Diagnoses

The following is the differential diagnosis for abdominal wall pain, i.e. suggested by a positive Carnett Sign^[1]. These are not in order of frequency as this is unknown.

Differential Diagnosis

Hernia
Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment (rectus nerve entrapment)
Thoracic Lateral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment
Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve entrapment
Endometriosis (in abdominal wall scar)
Diabetic radiculopathy
Abdominal wall tear and intra-abdominal wall adhesions
Abdominal wall hematoma
Spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma
Desmoid tumor
Herpes zoster
Spinal nerve irritation
Slipping rib syndrome
Idiopathic myofascial pain

References

↑ Suleiman S, Johnston DE. The abdominal wall: an overlooked source of pain. Am Fam Physician. 2001;64(3):431-438.

Axial Skeleton	Neck Pain Thoracic Pain Low Back Pain Sacroiliac Pain Coccydynia
Upper Limbs	Sternoclavicular Joint Pain Shoulder Pain and Instability Elbow Pain Wrist Pain and Instability Neuropathic Arm Pain
Lower Limbs	Hip Pain Lateral Hip Pain Groin Pain Posterior Thigh Pain Buttock Pain Anterior Thigh Pain Knee Pain Calf Pain Ankle Pain Foot Pain Neuropathic Leg Pain
Other	Abdominal Wall Pain Chest Wall Pain Joint Hypermobility Vertigo Widespread Pain Anterior Throat Pain Arthritis Rheumatology Symptoms

[1] Suleiman S, Johnston DE. The abdominal wall: an overlooked source of pain. Am Fam Physician. 2001;64(3):431-438.

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