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Omental cyst presenting with profound anaemia
Boma T Adikibi1, Richard Wood, Komala Pillay
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Klipfontein Road, Cape Town, South Africa.
African Journal of Paediatric Surgery : AJPS
|July 18, 2013
Summary
Omental cysts are rare abdominal pathologies that can cause severe anemia in infants. Complete surgical resection is the recommended treatment with low morbidity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Abdominal Pathology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Omental cysts are rare congenital anomalies that can present with various abdominal symptoms.
- Diagnosis often requires advanced imaging techniques.
- While generally benign, complications can arise, necessitating prompt surgical intervention.
Observation:
- A male infant presented with acute profound anemia and abdominal distension.
- Laparotomy revealed a large omental cyst as the cause.
- A review identified five additional cases since 2005 with diverse clinical presentations.
Findings:
- Omental cysts can manifest with varied symptoms, including severe anemia and shock due to intra-cystic hemorrhage.
- Complete surgical resection is the optimal treatment for omental cysts.
- This treatment approach is associated with low patient morbidity.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering omental cysts in the differential diagnosis of pediatric abdominal masses, especially those presenting with anemia.
- Emphasizes complete resection as the gold standard for management.
- Suggests further research into the pathophysiology of intra-cystic hemorrhage in omental cysts.
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