What sign is consistent with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in a patient with pericholecystic fluid?

Prepare for the Rosh Internal Medicine Boost End of Rotation (EOR) Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations to help you excel. Get exam-ready now!

In the context of acute cholecystitis, the presence of pericholecystic fluid is a key imaging finding, and the specific symptom that aligns well with this diagnosis is right scapular pain. This pain is often referred to as Kehr's sign, which is the result of diaphragmatic irritation from the inflamed gallbladder. The right thoracic nerve roots (T5 to T9) can refer pain to the right shoulder and scapular region due to their shared nerve pathways. Therefore, when a patient experiences right scapular pain alongside imaging findings of pericholecystic fluid, it strongly suggests acute cholecystitis.

While other symptoms like abdominal distention, jaundice, and shaking chills can occur in various gastrointestinal conditions, they are not specific indicators of acute cholecystitis. They might suggest other issues, such as obstructive jaundice or systemic infection, but they don't have the same direct linkage to gallbladder inflammation and its complications as right scapular pain does. This makes the symptom of right scapular pain the most consistent sign related to the diagnosis in this scenario.

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