Article: The right hypochondrium… Is it really “right”? A territorial dispute Back to article | View all comments

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Dear Dr. Kamath,
Thank you for this stimulating article. In clinical practice nowadays, I think the term “right hypochondrium” is mostly used to describe symptoms / signs arising from the area immediately below and underneath the costal margin. In clinical practice this area presents with some of the most distinct clinical manifestations. I think it is only because it is so clinically distinct that the misnomer you have alluded to has survived for so long. Indeed a patient presenting with pain in the right hypochondrium can be manage with relative certainty that is in stark contrast with most other abdominal pain presentations. Referral to the right shoulder and jaw, presence of tenderness, increased pain after ingestion of fat etc, can usually aid in asserting a most probable cause.

Anatomically speaking you raise an important point and it is important to be accurate especially when dealing with a region of such clinical importance. Thank you for this provocative article.

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Dr.Aroon,There are misconceptions in our concepts and need some one to look back and look ahead.This blog makes it stimulating reading. Congratulations for making this relevant point.

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