title: Rectus sheath hematoma: three case reports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rectus sheath hematoma is an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain. It is an accumulation of blood in the sheath of the rectus abdominis, secondary to rupture of an epigastric vessel or muscle tear. It could occur spontaneously or after trauma. They are usually located infraumblically and often misdiagnosed as acute abdomen, inflammatory diseases or tumours of the abdomen.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reported three cases of rectus sheath hematoma presenting with a mass in the abdomen and diagnosed by computerized tomography. The patients recovered uneventfully after bed rest, intravenous fluid replacement, blood transfusion and analgesic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rectus sheath hematoma is a rarely seen pathology often misdiagnosed as acute abdomen that may lead to unnecessary laparotomies. Computerized tomography must be chosen for definitive diagnosis since ultrasonography is subject to error due to misinterpretation of the images. Main therapy is conservative management.
authors.affiliation: Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Department of General Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey. selinkapan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Selin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapan
authors.forename: Ahmet N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alis
authors.forename: Mustafa U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Kalayci
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatipoglu
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yigitbas
authors.forename: Ersan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aygun