J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2010 Apr;21(2):266-270.

Four Cases of Primary Epiploic Appendagitis

• Goo JC
• Kim BU
• You IY
• Jeon WJ
• Chae HB
• Park SM
• Youn SJ
• Lee SW

Abstract

Primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA) occurs due to inflammation of an epiploic appendage, which is a peritoneal pouch that arises from the serosal surface of the colon. PEA is often associated with infarction caused by torsion or spontaneous venous thrombosis. PEA is a self-limited disease with a course of approximately 10 days, and it requires only symptomatic management for pain. But it clinically manifests with localized abdominal pain that is often mistaken for appendicitis, diverticulitis, or cholangitis. Therefore, PEA had been diagnosed at surgery for the past few decades. Making the preoperative diagnosis of PEA through ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) has recently become possible. We report here on four cases of PEA that were diagnosed and treated by symptomatic management.

Keyword

Colonic disease; Abdominal pain; Acute abdomen

MeSH Terms

Abdomen, Acute
Abdominal Pain
Appendicitis
Cholangitis
Colon
Colonic Diseases
Diverticulitis
Infarction
Inflammation
Peas
Venous Thrombosis