What are the most likely causes of upper abdominal pain? Is cancer a high probability?

The causes of upper abdominal pain vary and may involve multiple organs and systems. Here are some common causes:

1. Digestive system diseases

1. Gastric diseases :

• Acute gastritis : acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by various reasons, manifested by symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Chronic gastritis : Long-term chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa may cause upper abdominal pain, bloating, etc.
• Gastroduodenal ulcer : Ulcers caused by gastric acid erosion of the mucosa may cause upper abdominal pain, especially after eating or at night.
• Gastric cancer : In the early stages, there may be only mild upper abdominal discomfort. As the disease progresses, the pain may gradually increase and be accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss and loss of appetite.

1. Hepatobiliary diseases :

• Acute cholecystitis : Inflammation of the gallbladder caused by cystic duct obstruction and bacterial infection, manifested by paroxysmal colic in the right upper abdomen that may radiate to the right shoulder and back.
• Chronic cholecystitis : persistent, recurrent chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, which may manifest as dull pain in the upper abdomen, a feeling of fullness, etc.
• Biliary stones : Pain caused by stones blocking the bile duct may manifest as upper abdominal or right upper abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
• Hepatitis, liver abscess, liver cancer : These liver diseases may cause upper abdominal pain, accompanied by other symptoms such as jaundice and weight loss.

1. Pancreatic diseases :

• Acute pancreatitis : Acute inflammation of the pancreas, manifested by severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back.
• Chronic pancreatitis : Chronic inflammation of the pancreas may cause upper abdominal pain, accompanied by symptoms such as indigestion and diarrhea.
• Pancreatic cancer : There may be no obvious symptoms in the early stages. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, jaundice, and weight loss may appear.

2. Non-digestive system diseases

1. Cardiovascular Disease :

• Angina pectoris, myocardial infarction : These heart diseases may manifest as upper abdominal pain, especially in inferior wall myocardial infarction.

1. Chest diseases :

• Pleurisy, pneumonia : These chest diseases may cause upper abdominal pain through nerve conduction.

1. Systemic diseases :

• Uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis : These systemic diseases may cause upper abdominal pain, accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

3. Cancer Probability Assessment

There is a certain correlation between upper abdominal pain and cancer, but not all upper abdominal pain is caused by cancer. In fact, most upper abdominal pain is caused by benign diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcer, cholecystitis, etc. However, if the upper abdominal pain persists, gradually worsens, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, jaundice, loss of appetite, etc., you should be highly alert to the possibility of cancer.

Specifically, stomach cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and other cancers may cause upper abdominal pain. However, it should be noted that the incidence of cancer is relatively low, and the incidence of different cancers is related to factors such as region, age, gender, and genetic background. Therefore, when upper abdominal pain occurs, the possibility of common benign diseases should be considered first, and medical diagnosis and treatment should be sought in a timely manner.

In short, there are many causes of upper abdominal pain, involving multiple organs and systems. When upper abdominal pain occurs, you should seek medical attention for diagnosis and treatment in time to identify the cause and take appropriate treatment measures. At the same time, maintaining good living habits and eating habits is also an important measure to prevent upper abdominal pain.