Computed tomography diagnosis of omental infarction presenting as an acute abdomen

摘要

Omental infarction is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain. Without the support of radiological evidence, diagnosis is difficult to attain owing to its infrequent incidence, low awareness among clinicians, and its nonspecific presentation that mimics other causes of acute abdomen, namely, acute appendicitis and cholecystitis. Incorrect diagnosis may lead to unnecessary invasive surgery in patients with omental infarction, a disorder that is typically managed conservatively without exposing the patient to intraoperative risks and postoperative morbidity. We report a case of a 61-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with signs of peritonitis. He was eventually diagnosed with omental infarction through computed tomography of the abdomen. He was successfully managed medically with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and antiemetic medications, with complete resolution of his symptoms within 2 weeks.