title: [Epiploic appendagitis: sonographic findings in 28 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the sonographic signs of epiploic appendagitis in a larger number of patients and to add new details.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a period of approximately 8 years 28 patients were sonographically diagnosed to have epiploic appendagitis. The following sonographic signs were investigated: echogenicity of the lesion; compressibility; shape of the lesion; adherence to the anterior abdominal wall; peripheral rim; central hypoechoic line; thickening of the colonic wall. In 11 of these patients colour Doppler sonography was performed. In addition all 28 patients underwent CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 28/28 cases (100 %) a moderately hyperechoic, ovoid, non-compressible mass adjacent to the colon was demonstrated. The mass was surrounded by a hypoechoic rim in 20 cases (71 %) and was fixed to the abdominal wall in 26/28 cases (93 %). Five cases (18 %) revealed a central hypoechoic line, and slight thickening of the colonic wall was visible in 2 cases (7 %). In those cases where colour Doppler sonography was performed, colour flow was absent in the central part of the lesion. In the peripheral zone slightly increased colour flow was demonstrable in 9/11 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epiploic appendagitis has a characteristic sonographic appearance with a moderately hyperechoic, ovoid, non-compressible lesion adjacent to the colon and adherent to the abdominal wall. The mass is frequently surrounded by a hypoechoic rim. Colour Doppler sonography shows a central avascular area and slightly increased colour flow in the peripheral zone.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, KH Barmherzige Brüder, Salzburg, Germany. alois.hollerweger@bbsalz.at
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hollerweger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macheiner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rettenbacher
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gritzmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography