Torsion of the greater omentum: two case reports

Torsion of the omentum is a benign self-limiting disorder, which is difficult to diagnose because the main symptoms are similar to those of other abdominal diseases. Most of the published cases had been diagnosed during operation via direct eye view. According to several studies, it is important that the correct preoperative diagnosis is made as omental torsion can be treated conservatively in most cases without any complications avoiding surgical intervention. However, patients should be under clinical and laboratory observation in order to detect symptoms that would lead to surgical intervention in which case a laparoscopy is the appropriate surgical treatment.

Torsion of the great omentum is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain which is usually misdiagnosed. In this study we report two cases, a 52-year-old Greek woman and a 68-year-old Greek man, who presented at our emergency room with symptoms such as right lower quadrant pain and tenderness similar to acute appendicitis. In both cases a surgical exploratory laparotomy of the abdomen revealed a twisted heavily congested segment of the right part of the greater omentum accompanied by intra-abdominal serosanguinous fluid.

Greater omental torsion is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. It presents as acute abdominal pain located more often in the right iliac fossa. It is very important to make a correct preoperative diagnosis because omental torsion is a benign self-limiting disorder that can be treated conservatively, avoiding laparotomy. When a patient's clinical, laboratory and radiological findings worsen or diagnosis is doubtful then laparoscopy is the appropriate method for diagnosis and treatment.