Appropriate triage of abdominal pain in the outpatient setting is critical for safe and effective management of patients. Abdominal pain has a broad differential, heavily dependent on elicitation of a clear history, and pertinent physical exam findings. In adults >50 with left lower quadrant pain, diverticulitis is the most common cause. Diverticulitis can cause significant morbidity in this population, frequently requiring inpatient management, systemic antibiotics, and occasionally surgical intervention. A frequently overlooked cause of left lower quadrant pain in adults is Epiploic Appendagitis (EA). While similar in presentation, unlike diverticulitis, EA rarely requires more than outpatient treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for pain management. Here we present a report of left lower quadrant pain consistent with diverticulitis in a 55 yo female in the outpatient setting, found to have EA by imaging. This case demonstrates that the differential for LLQ pain without signs of an acute abdomen in an adult, should include EA.
Left lower quadrant pain: an unlikely diagnosis in a case of acute abdomen