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Published in: Current Pain and Headache Reports 4/2024

10-02-2024 | Abdominal Pain | Chronic Pain Medicine (O Viswanath, Section Editor)

The Diagnostic Value of Carnett’s Test with Chronic Abdominal Pain: A Narrative Review

Authors: Xiao-Xiao Sun, Heng Liu, Xiang-Zheng Qin, Mei-Rui Li, Qing-hua Yan, Guang-Jian Zhang

Published in: Current Pain and Headache Reports | Issue 4/2024

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic abdominal wall pain is a poorly recognized cause of chronic abdominal pain, and patients frequently go misdiagnosed despite a battery of medical tests. The Carnett’s test is a diagnostic tool used to distinguish between abdominal wall pain and visceral pain. This review synthesizes the current literature on the Carnett’s test, merges the viewpoints of diverse writers, and evaluates and reports on the Carnett’s test’s applicability.

Recent Findings

Several clinical investigations have established the usefulness of the Carnett’s test in the diagnosis of chronic abdominal wall pain. Furthermore, the Carnett’s test is quite useful in determining the depth of the mass and detecting psychogenic abdominal pain. However, its diagnostic use for acute abdominal pain is limited.

Summary

The Carnett’s test is a simple and safe point-of-care diagnostic technique, with several studies supporting its usefulness. Early detection of abdominal wall pain is critical for chronic abdominal wall pain therapy. Carnett’s test is very useful in patients with chronic, unexplained local abdominal discomfort who are compliant and do not have a clear rationale for surgery.
Literature
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Metadata
Title
The Diagnostic Value of Carnett’s Test with Chronic Abdominal Pain: A Narrative Review
Authors
Xiao-Xiao Sun
Heng Liu
Xiang-Zheng Qin
Mei-Rui Li
Qing-hua Yan
Guang-Jian Zhang
Publication date
10-02-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Keyword
Abdominal Pain
Published in
Current Pain and Headache Reports / Issue 4/2024
Print ISSN: 1531-3433
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3081
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-024-01223-9

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