J Korean Pediatr Soc.
2002 Aug;45(8):1024-1027.
A Case of Primary Epiploic Appendagitis
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Ulsan, Korea. jyjeong@uuh.ulsan.kr
- 2Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Ulsan, Korea.
Abstract
- Epiploic appendages are small, 0.5-5 cm long, peritoneal pouches containing small vessels and fat, located on the serous surface of the colon, from the cecum to the rectosigmoid junction. Pathologic states are rare in these appendages, the most frequent being is infarction either due to torsion or spontaneous. As a result of subsequent inflammatory reaction, the condition has been termed primary epiploic appendagitis. The condition is manifested by localized abdominal pain, which is often mistaken for appendicitis or diverticulitis and is usually diagnosed at surgery. With the aid of comtemporary imaging modalities, however, the diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis need no longer hinge on the pathologic specimen but may be established by the clinician. As this disorder recently has been demonstrated to be predominantly self-limited, laparotomy is no longer considered necessary. Conservative management has been shown to be safe. We report a 5-year-old male patient with epiploic appendagitis who presented with acute abdominal pain.
