Murphy's Sign is primarily an indicator of which condition?

Murphy's Sign is a physical examination finding that is primarily indicative of cholecystitis, which is inflammation of the gallbladder. When performing this test, the physician asks the patient to take a deep breath while palpating the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. If the patient experiences pain and abruptly stops inhaling due to that pain, it suggests the presence of an inflamed gallbladder, which is characteristic of cholecystitis.

This sign is specifically associated with gallbladder issues because the inflamed organ can become more sensitive to pressure or movement, making it painful when the diaphragm is pushed down during inhalation. Therefore, a positive Murphy's sign supports a diagnosis of cholecystitis rather than conditions like appendicitis, diverticulitis, or pneumonia, which have different clinical presentations and examination findings.