Unusual cause of acute abdomen--omental infarction occurring in a child with cyclical neutropenia.
Omental infarction is a rare cause of acute abdomen in childhood. We describe a case of omental infarction mimicking acute appendicitis occurring in a child with cyclical neutropenia. Neutropenic enterocolitis, a serious cause of the acute abdomen, has been linked with cyclical neutropenia. In neutropenic patients, omental infarction when diagnosed pre-operatively can be managed conservatively with the focus on improving the neutrophil count. If after imaging the diagnosis is in doubt, there should be a low threshold for laparoscopy. The low incidence of omental infarction will continue to mean that it is a diagnosis made at operation for suspected appendicitis. In these cases, the infarcted tissue may be removed by the laparoscopic or open technique.
Ventham
Nicholas
N
Department of General Surgery, James Paget University Hospital, Gorelston, UK. n.ventham@hotmail.co.uk
Velchuru
Vamsi
V
Scout
Earl
E
Studley
John
J
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D009852:Omentum / Q000098:blood supply*; D010507:Periodicity