Seven Cases of Inflammation of the Epiploic Appendage

Abstract

【Background】 Inflammation of the epiploic appendage is a disease that can be cured by conservative treatment, and carries a favorable prognosis. We report seven cases of epiploic appendagitis. 【Patients and method】 Herein, we present the clinical findings and imaging features of seven patients with epiploic appendagitis in whom the condition was diagnosed by abdominal CT at our hospital. 【Results】 The patients were one man and six women, with a median age of 36 years (22-83 years). All the patients presented with abdominal pain, and both the white blood cell counts/serum CRP levels were normal or slightly elevated. The sites of occurrence included the descending colon (n=4), ascending colon (n=2), and sigmoid colon (n=1), and the left side of the colon was the predominantly affected site. The condition was primary in 6 patients, and secondary in one patient. In the patient with secondary epiploic appendagitis, the inflammatory markers in the blood were elevated to a higher degree as compared to those in the patients with primary epiploic appendagitis. In regard to treatment, six patients received conservative treatment, whereas one patient was preoperatively diagnosed as also having appendicitis and underwent surgery. 【Conclusion】 In cases of epiploic appendagitis, discriminating the site of occurrence and the cause （in cases of secondary epiploic appendagitis） is imperative for appropriate selection of the treatment.