A variety of classical clinical signs and symptoms are associated with acute infections of the biliary tract.
Charcot's triad - indicates biliary tract obstruction with ascending cholangitis:
(1) fever
(2) jaundice
(3) tender right upper quadrant
Reynold's pentad - indicated septicemia associated with ascending cholangitis:
(1 to 3) Charcot's triad
(4) hypotension
(5) altered mental status
Murphy's sign: inspiratory arrest secondary to pain while performing deep palpation at the right costal region, indicative of acute cholecystitis. This may also be elicited by maneuvering a sonographic transducer during ultrasonography.
Differential diagnosis:
(1) Courvoisier's sign: palpable and nontender gallbladder with severe jaundice, which suggests malignancy
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