Intest Res.  2009 Jun;7(1):56-59.

Seven Cases of Epiploic Appendagitis: Retrograde Analysis of Clinical Characteristics

• Choi YC
• Kim HJ
• Kim KS
• Jin YH
• Lee UJ
• Ahn HM
• Lee TS

Abstract

Epiploic appendagitis is a relatively rare cause of acute abdominal pain. Usually, epiploic appendagitis is a benign and self-limited condition, but it can be clinically misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis or diverticulitis, so an inaccurate diagnosis may lead to unnecessary treatment. We recently managed 7 cases of epiploic appendagitis during 1 year and review these cases with an emphasis on the clinical diagnostic features. The main pathophysiologic mechanism underlying epiploic appendagitis is thought to be triggered by appendageal torsion and caused by a subsequent blood flow disturbance. This medical condition must be kept in mind when a patient with acute abdominal pain has well-localized pain which is characteristically sharp in nature and a mild systemic inflammatory response compared to the severity of the pain.

Keyword

Epiploic Appendagitis; Abdomen, Acute; Diagnosis, Differential

MeSH Terms

Abdomen, Acute
Abdominal Pain
Appendicitis
Diagnosis, Differential
Diverticulitis
Humans