Abdominal pain - learning when not to intervene!
Niranjan Tachamo1, Bidhya Timilsina2, Salik Nazir2
1Department of Medicine, Reading Hospital, West Reading, PA, USA; niranjantachamo@gmail.com.
Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives
|December 18, 2016
Summary
Epiploic appendagitis (EA) is a rare cause of abdominal pain. Prompt diagnosis with CT scans can lead to conservative management, avoiding unnecessary surgery.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
Background:
- Epiploic appendagitis (EA) is an uncommon, benign cause of acute abdominal pain.
- It can mimic serious conditions like appendicitis and diverticulitis, complicating diagnosis.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial to prevent unnecessary interventions.
Observation:
- A 43-year-old female presented with a two-day history of right lower quadrant abdominal pain and diarrhea.
- Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen with contrast was utilized for diagnosis.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with epiploic appendagitis.
- Conservative management was initiated for the condition.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of EA in clinical practice can prevent misdiagnosis.
- Timely CT diagnosis facilitates conservative management, avoiding surgery, antibiotics, and hospital admission.
- This case highlights the importance of considering EA in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain.
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