An Uncommon Cause of Acute Abdominal Pain: Primary Epiploic Appendagitis in the Emergency Setting

• DOI: 10.23861/ejbm201631746
• Publication Date: 2017-01-17T16:28:10Z
• Authors: Scott D. Casey; Joseph DiVito Jr.; Jason B. Lupow; Reshma Gulani
• Keywords: Acute abdominal pain; Abdominal computed tomography; Diverticulitis

In the emergency setting, diagnosis of benign causes acute abdominal pain can prevent unnecessary medical interventions. To illustrate this point, we report case a 28-year-old man who presented to emer- gency department with symptoms suggestive diverticulitis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) established, instead, primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA), which was managed expectantly. The patient’s resolved within one week hospital discharge and he remained free at five-month phone follow-up. Increased awareness PEA its self-limited course help physician avoid imaging studies expectantly manage cause pain.