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Acute abdomen: The abrupt (acute) onset of
abdominal pain. A potential medical
emergency, an acute abdomen may
reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the
abdomen such as the appendix (being inflamed =
appendicitis), the gallbladder (inflamed = cholecystitis),
the intestine (an ulcer that has perforated), the spleen
(that has ruptured), etc. The term "acute abdomen" is
medical shorthand. It has nonetheless come into common
usage in medical parlance. Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6140
Last Editorial Review: 7/2/2001
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