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Thyrotoxicosis Presenting as an Acute Abdomen.
Samantha Woolery1, Mari Freedberg2, Jason D Sciarretta3
1Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Thyrotoxicosis can mimic surgical emergencies like peritonitis, presenting with concerning signs such as portal venous gas. This rare case highlights the importance of considering non-surgical causes for acute abdominal pain.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Abdominal pain is a frequent emergency department presentation.
- Portal venous gas on imaging often indicates a need for surgical intervention due to potential intra-abdominal pathology.
Observation:
- A patient presented with peritonitis signs and portal venous gas on CT scan.
- Emergency surgery revealed no intra-abdominal pathology.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis.
- Thyrotoxicosis was the presumed cause of the acute abdomen presentation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering thyrotoxicosis in patients with acute abdomen and negative surgical findings.
- Delayed diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
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