A patient with blunt abdominal trauma is found to have referred shoulder pain. What condition should be suspected?

Referred shoulder pain in the context of blunt abdominal trauma is commonly associated with a ruptured spleen. This occurs due to the irritation of the diaphragm, particularly the phrenic nerve, which can transmit pain signals to the shoulder. The spleen, located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, can bleed and irritate the diaphragm when injured, leading to this referred pain phenomenon. Recognizing this specific symptom is crucial for timely diagnosis and management, as a ruptured spleen can lead to significant internal bleeding and requires urgent intervention.

In contrast, the other conditions listed may not typically present with shoulder pain as a primary symptom in the context of blunt abdominal trauma.