Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
09:00
Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram
Published on: July 7, 2023
4.4K
Acute Epiploic Appendagitis: A Nonsurgical Abdominal Pain
Marco Di Serafino1, Francesca Iacobellis1, Piero Trovato2
1Department of General and Emergency Radiology, "Antonio Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Case Reports in Emergency Medicine
|August 6, 2019
Summary
Epiploic appendagitis, an inflammation of the large intestine's epiploic appendices, is often diagnosed by exclusion. Characteristic imaging findings on ultrasound and CT scans aid in its diagnosis, reducing unnecessary surgeries.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain, often mistaken for appendicitis or diverticulitis.
- Diagnosis is challenging due to non-specific clinical presentations.
- It involves inflammation of the epiploic appendices, which are small, fat-filled sacs on the surface of the colon.
Observation:
- A case of epiploic appendagitis is presented to illustrate its typical imaging features.
- Diagnostic imaging modalities like ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are increasingly utilized for acute abdominal pain evaluation.
- Characteristic findings on imaging can lead to a definitive diagnosis.
Findings:
- Epiploic appendagitis presents with inflammation of the epiploic appendages.
- Imaging findings, particularly on CT, show a thickened, inflamed epiploic appendage with surrounding fat stranding and a central high-attenuation focus.
- Ultrasound may reveal a non-compressible, hyperechoic mass.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis through imaging can prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgical interventions.
- Increased awareness of this condition and its imaging characteristics among clinicians is crucial.
- Non-operative management is typically effective for uncomplicated epiploic appendagitis.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Surface Appendages of Archaea
615
Archaeal surface appendages are highly specialized structures essential for environmental adaptation, encompassing roles in adhesion, biofilm formation, and motility. Among these appendages, pili and archaella stand out for their distinct morphologies and functionalities, enabling archaea to thrive in diverse and often extreme environments.Pili: Adhesion and Biofilm FormationPili are filamentous structures assembled from pilin protein subunits, primarily contributing to adhesion and biofilm...
615
01:25Abdominal Aorta
2.1K
Once the aorta traverses the diaphragmatic plane at the aortic hiatus, it is known as the abdominal aorta. This anatomical structure is positioned leftward of the spinal column, encased within a cocoon of adipose tissue behind the peritoneal cavity. It terminates at the L4 vertebra, where it splits into the common iliac arteries. Prior to this bifurcation, the abdominal aorta gives rise to several vital branches.
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...
2.1K
01:20Pain
1.3K
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
1.3K
01:20Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography
1.4K
Introduction:
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...
1.4K
01:19Abdominal Regions and Quadrants
16.7K
To promote clear communication, for instance, about the location of a patient's abdominal pain or a suspicious mass, anatomists and clinicians typically use imaginary lines to categorize the abdominopelvic cavity into either four quadrants or nine regions to identify organs in the cavity.
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four...
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four...
16.7K
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
1.5K
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
1.5K