Etiology	Comments	Diagnosis
Hernia	Protuberance in abdominal wall that usually decreases in size when patient is supine	Abdominal CT scanning, abdominal ultrasonography, herniography
Rectus nerve entrapment	Occurs along lateral edge of rectus sheath; worsening of pain with tensing of muscles	Injection of local anesthetic
Thoracic lateral cutaneous nerve entrapment	Occurs spontaneously, after surgery or during pregnancy	History and physical examination
Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve entrapment	Lower abdominal pain that occurs after inguinal hernia repair	History and physical examination
Endometriosis	Cyclic abdominal pain	Laparoscopy
Diabetic radiculopathy	Acute, severe truncal pain involving T6-T12 nerve roots	Paraspinal EMG
Abdominal wall tear	Occurs mainly in athletes	History and physical examination
Abdominal wall hematoma	Complication of abdominal laparoscopic procedures	Abdominal CT scanning, abdominal ultrasonography
Spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma	Presents as tender, usually unilateral mass that does not extend beyond midline	Abdominal CT scanning, abdominal ultrasonography
Desmoid tumor	Dysplastic tumor of connective tissue; occurs in young patients (females more often than males)	Surgical excision
Herpes zoster	Pain and hyperesthesia followed by vesicles along a dermatome	History and physical examination
Spinal nerve irritation	Caused by disorders of thoracic spine	CT scanning or MRI studies of thoracic spine
Slipping rib syndrome	Sharp, stabbing pain in upper abdomen caused by luxation of eighth to 10th ribs	Hooking maneuver to pull lower ribs anteriorly, which reproduces the pain and sometimes a click
Idiopathic	Myofascial pain	History and physical examination