A 70-year-old female presents with right upper quadrant pain that radiates to her back. The pain began suddenly a few hours ago and is constant. She also reports nausea and vomiting. On physical examination, she has a positive Murphy's sign. What is the likely diagnosis, and what are the next steps?
This patient's presentation is suggestive of acute cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder, likely secondary to gallstones. The next steps would include lab tests, such as a complete blood count and liver function tests, and imaging studies, typically an ultrasound, to confirm the diagnosis. If acute cholecystitis is confirmed, the patient will typically need antibiotic treatment and likely surgery (cholecystectomy) to remove the gallbladder.