scholarly journals An Uncommon Cause of Acute Abdominal Pain: Primary Epiploic Appendagitis in the Emergency Setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1&2) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Scott D. Casey ◽  
Joseph DiVito Jr. ◽  
Jason B. Lupow ◽  
Reshma Gulani

In the emergency setting, the diagnosis of benign causes of acute abdominal pain can prevent unnecessary medical interventions. To illustrate this point, we report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented to the emer- gency department with symptoms suggestive of acute diverticulitis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) established, instead, a diagnosis of primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA), which was managed expectantly. The patient’s symptoms resolved within one week of hospital discharge and he remained free of pain at a five-month phone follow-up. Increased awareness of PEA and its self-limited course can help the emergency physician avoid unnecessary imaging studies and expectantly manage this cause of acute abdominal pain. 

Author(s):  
Kamila Motta Stradiotti ◽  
Felipe Pires de Albuquerque ◽  
Maria Laura Silveira de Castro ◽  
Laiane Milani de Arruda

Introdução: Apendagite epiplóica (AE) é uma causa incomum de dor abdominal causada por alterações inflamatórias e isquêmicas relacionadas à torção ou trombose venosa dos apêndices epiplóicos. Estas estruturas consistem em projeções de tecido adiposo que emergem da superfície serosa do cólon e apêndice cecal, sendo maiores e mais numerosas no cólon descendente e sigmóide. A apendagite epiplóica do apêndice cecal (AEA) é uma forma ainda mais rara de apresentação, tendo poucos casos relatados em literatura. Os sinais e sintomas da AE comumente mimetizam outras causas de abdome agudo, que varia dependendo da sua localização, devendo ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial de dor abdominal localizada. O diagnóstico correto é fundamental para evitar gastos e procedimentos desnecessários, pois se trata de uma condição benigna e autolimitada, com tratamento conservador sendo suficiente na grande maioria dos casos. Atualmente a tomografia computadorizada é o método de escolha na avaliação de pacientes com abdome agudo. Objetivo: Relatar um caso raro de dor abdominal aguda causada por apendagite epiplóica do apêndice cecal e a importância do seu diagnóstico correto. Relato do caso: Paciente com quadro de dor abdominal aguda no quadrante inferior direito, afebril e sem outras queixas gastrointestinais associadas. Ao exame físico referiu dor à palpação profunda no quadrante inferior direito. Exames laboratoriais sem alterações. Foram solicitados exames de imagem complementares, evidenciando apêndice cecal nos limites superiores da normalidade, inflamação periapendicular e uma imagem com densidade de gordura adjacente ao apêndice. Os diagnósticos diferenciais foram de apendicite inicial e apendagite epiplóica. Foi realizado tratamento operatório e exame anatomopatológico, que confirmou o diagnóstico de apendagite epiplóica do apêndice cecal. As informações foram obtidas por meio de revisão do prontuário, entrevista com o paciente, registro dos métodos diagnósticos, incluindo exames laboratoriais, exames de imagem como tomografia computadorizada e anatomopatológico, aos quais o paciente foi submetido e uma breve revisão da literatura. Conclusão: Relatamos um caso raro de apendagite epiplóica do apêndice cecal, demonstrando um desafio diagnóstico e a importância dos métodos de imagem. Palavras Chave: Dor abdominal, Abdome agudo, Apêndice cecal, Diagnóstico por imagemABSTRACT: Introduction: Epiploic appendagitis (LA) is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain caused by inflammatory and ischemic changes related to venous torsion or thrombosis of the epiploic appendages. These structures consist of projections of adipose tissue that emerge from the serous surface of the colon and cecal appendix, being larger and more numerous in the descending and sigmoid colon. Epiploic appendagitis of the appendix (EAA) is an even rarer form of presentation, with few cases reported in the literature. The signs and symptoms of EAA commonly mimic other causes of acute abdomen, which varies depending on their location, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of localized abdominal pain. Correct diagnosis is essential to avoid unnecessary expenses and procedures, as it is a benign and self-limited condition, with conservative treatment being sufficient in the vast majority of cases. Currently, computed tomography is the method of choice in the evaluation of patients with acute abdomen. Objectives: To describe a rare cause of abdominal pain due acute epiploic appendagitis of the appendix and reinforce the importance of the CT to diagnosis this condition and rule out other causes of acute abdominal pain. Case report: Patient with acute abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant, afebrile and without other associated gastrointestinal complaints. On physical examination, she reported pain on deep palpation in the lower right quadrant. Laboratory tests without changes. Complementary imaging exams were requested, showing the appendix at the upper limits of normal, periapendicular inflammation and an image with fat density adjacent to the appendix. The differential diagnoses were of initial appendicitis and epiplatic appendagitis. Operative treatment and anatomopathological examination were performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of appendagitis of the appendix. Information was obtained by reviewing medical records, interviewing the patient, recording diagnostic methods, including laboratory tests, imaging tests such as computed tomography, anatomopathology, and a brief review of the literature. Conclusion: We report a case of acute epiploic appendagitis of the appendix, demonstrating a diagnostic challenge and the importance of imaging methods.Keywords: Abdominal pain; Abdomen, acute; Appendix, Diagnostic imaging


Vascular ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Xiaoming Zhang ◽  
Xuemin Zhang ◽  
Jingjun Jiang ◽  
Bingying Zhou

This report presents the case of a patient with isolated spontaneous celiac artery dissection. The patient developed acute abdominal pain that was induced by eating. Computed tomography and selective angiography revealed an intimal flap that separated the true and false lumens located 3 cm from the origin of the celiac artery. We treated the patient with a stent that was deployed endovascularly into the celiac artery to seal the entry site. Postoperative angiography revealed that the graft was patent and the follow-up period was uneventful. The etiology, clinical features, diagnostic modalities and treatment options of isolated spontaneous celiac artery dissection are reported.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Giambelluca ◽  
Roberto Cannella ◽  
Giovanni Caruana ◽  
Leonardo Salvaggio ◽  
Emanuele Grassedonio ◽  
...  

AbstractEpiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain, determined by a benign self-limiting inflammation of the epiploic appendages. It may manifest with heterogeneous clinical presentations, mimicking other more severe entities responsible of acute abdominal pain, such as acute diverticulitis or appendicitis. Given its importance as clinical mimicker, imaging plays a crucial role to avoid inaccurate diagnosis that may lead to unnecessary hospitalization, antibiotic therapy, and surgery. CT represents the gold standard technique for the evaluation of patients with indeterminate acute abdominal pain. Imaging findings include the presence of an oval lesion with fat-attenuation surrounded by a thin hyperdense rim on CT (“hyperattenuating ring sign”) abutting anteriorly the large bowel, usually associated with inflammation of the adjacent mesentery. A central high-attenuation focus within the fatty lesion (“central dot sign”) can sometimes be observed and is indicative of a central thrombosed vein within the inflamed epiploic appendage. Rarely, epiploic appendagitis may be located within a hernia sac or attached to the vermiform appendix. Chronically infarcted epiploic appendage may detach, appearing as an intraperitoneal loose calcified body in the abdominal cavity. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the clinical presentation and key imaging features that may help the radiologist to make an accurate diagnosis and guide the clinical management of those patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-182
Author(s):  
Piero Trovato ◽  
Igino Simonetti ◽  
Francesco Verde ◽  
Pascal Lomoro ◽  
Giorgia Vinci ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Touraj Asvadi-Kermani ◽  
Farnaz Naeimzadeh ◽  
Javad Jalili ◽  
Haleh Rezaee

Epiploic appendagitis is natural fats at the anti-mesenchymal surface of the colon. EP is self- limited. Misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary hospitalization, antibiotic therapy, and surgical intervention. The incidence reported 8.8 cases / million / year. Here, we report on 36-year-old female patient who presented with acute abdominal pain that was getting worse with the change of position. Based on these symptoms and double contrast computed tomography, she was diagnosed with epiploic appendagitis in adjacent to the sigmoid. The patient was treated successfully with conservative management and antibiotics. Since the signs and symptoms of epiploic appendagitis are nonspecific, but considering of this disease as one of the differential diagnoses of acute abdominal pain can prevent the disease from misdiagnosing.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Sajed

Abdominal pain is the most common presenting complaint in the emergency department (ED), accounting for nearly 8% of ED visits. Although many chronic conditions may cause pain in the abdomen, acute abdominal pain, defined as undiagnosed pain present for less than 1 week, is of greatest concern to the emergency practitioner. For many reasons, acute abdominal pain is often diagnostically challenging. Abdominal pain may be due to numerous causes, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other sources. Symptoms may fluctuate or change in nature, and the quality of pain can be difficult for the patient to describe. Physical examination findings, although important, are variable and can even be misleading. Despite being such a common presenting complaint, misdiagnosis is not uncommon and results in a high percentage of medicolegal actions in both and adult and pediatric populations. This review contains 5 figures, 8 tables, and 92 references Key words: abdominal computed tomography, abdominal pain, abdominal ultrasonography, pain management, point-of-care ultrasonography


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-86
Author(s):  
Nalan Kozaci ◽  
Mustafa Avci ◽  
Gul Tulubas ◽  
Ertan Ararat ◽  
Omer Faruk Karakoyun ◽  
...  

Objectives: This prospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of bedside point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography performed by emergency physician in patients with non-traumatic acute abdominal pain. Methods: The patients, who were admitted to emergency department due to abdominal pain, were included in this study. The emergency physician obtained a routine history, physical examination, blood draws, and ordered diagnostic imaging. After the initial clinical examinations, all the patients underwent ultrasonography for abdominal pathologies by emergency physician and radiologist, respectively. Point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography compared with abdominal ultrasonography performed by radiologist as the gold standard. Results: The study included 122 patients. Gallbladder and appendix pathologies were the most commonly detected in the abdominal ultrasonography. Compared with abdominal ultrasonography, point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography was found to have 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity in gallbladder pathologies; 91% sensitivity and 91% specificity in acute appendicitis; 79% sensitivity and 97% specificity in abdominal free fluid; 83% sensitivity and 96% specificity in ovarian pathologies. Compared to final diagnosis, preliminary diagnoses of emergency physicians were correct in 92 (75.4%) patients. Conclusion: This study showed that emergency physicians were successful in identifying abdominal organ pathologies with point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography after training.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Giulia Frauenfelder ◽  
Annamaria Maraziti ◽  
Vincenzo Ciccone ◽  
Giuliano Maraziti ◽  
Oliviero Caleo ◽  
...  

Lemmel syndrome is a rare and misdiagnosed cause of acute abdominal pain due to a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum causing mechanical obstruction of the common bile duct. Frequently, patients suffering from Lemmel syndrome have a history of recurrent access to the emergency room for acute abdominal pain referable to a biliopancreatic obstruction, in the absence of lithiasis nuclei or solid lesions at radiological examinations. Ultrasonography (US) may be helpful in evaluation of upstream dilatation of extra-/intra-hepatic biliary duct, but computed tomography (CT) is the reference imaging modality for the diagnosis of periampullary duodenal diverticula compressing the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct. Recognition of this entity is crucial for targeted, timely therapy avoiding mismanagement and therapeutic delay. The aim of this paper is to report CT imaging findings and our experience in two patients affected by Lemmel syndrome.


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