Abstract:

Introduction: Primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA) is a rare and self-limiting disease that can mimicking acute apendicitis and diverticulitis because of the clinical symptoms. The present retrospective study was discussed to clinical and radiologic characteristics of PEA. Methods: We reviewed the clinical, laboratory and computed tomography (CT) findings of 10 patients with PEA between August 2010 and December 2012. Results: Ten patients (1 female and 9 males) were diagnosed with PEA. The average age was 37.1 (15-63) years. Abdominal pain was localized to the right (2 cases, 20%) or left (7 cases, 70%) lower quadrants and generalized (1 cases, 10%). All patients were afebrile. Only two patients showed leukocytosis. There were gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea (3 patients) and vomiting (1patient). In all cases, a pericolic fatty mass with a hyper attenuated ring was observed on CT. All of the patients were treated symptomatic. Conlusion: In patients have atypical symptoms and laboratory values with abdominal pain (especially left lower abdominal pain), PEA should be considered in differential diagnosis. For correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgery, CT must be used in diagnosis because imaging findings characteristic of the disease.

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