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A Reasonable Explanation for Abdominal Pain?

Eddy D. Palmer, MD

JAMA. 1975;233(11):1205.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

THE EUROPEAN medical literature of the World War I era showed an active interest in the concept that the celiac (solar) plexus can be a source of abdominal pain in the absence of any visceral disease or emotional disturbance. Well-known authors wrote about "celiac ganglion pain" and the "solar plexus syndrome"—Bichat, Glénard, Roux, and others. Enthusiasm was not sustained, however, perhaps because it was not possible to put the concept of an anatomically localized explanation for functional pain to an objective test. In more recent times, the matter was discussed further, again by thoughtful clinicians—Walton, Maratza, Moolten, and others. It has not caught on. Perhaps it should be given another hearing.

When carcinoma of the pancreas engulfs the celiac plexus, a classical pain syndrome is produced. Its features are so precise and predictable that, when full-blown, it is recognized with some assurance at the bedside.

In primary celiac plexus syndrome, . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Editorial Board, JAMA

From the Department of Medicine, Hackettstown Community Hospital, Hackettstown, NJ.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to 43 Flocktown Rd, RD 1, Long Valley, NJ 07853 (Dr. Palmer).

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