A 17-year-old adolescent female is 6 weeks postpartum. She presents to the emergency room with the complaints of increased jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Her examination is remarkable for jaundice, pain of the right upper quadrant with guarding, and a clear chest. Chest radiographs appear normal. Which of the following tests is most likely to reveal the cause of this pain?
Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are unusual diseases in children and are almost always associated with predisposing disorders such as hemolytic anemia, pregnancy, CF, Crohn disease, obesity, rapid weight loss, or prior ileal resection. Pain of the right upper quadrant, nausea, vomiting, fever, and jaundice are symptoms of acute cholecystitis. The diagnosis is confirmed with an ultrasound of the gallbladder. While some of the other answers listed might result in abnormalities, the findings would be neither sensitive nor specific for cholecystitis. Thus, the diagnostic test of choice is an ultrasound.
Serum chemistries
Complete blood count (CBC) with platelets and differential
Ultrasound of the right upper quadrant
Upper GI series
Gastro Intestinal System