title: Insights into epiploic appendagitis.
abstract: Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of abdominal pain. Diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis, although infrequent, is easily made with CT or ultrasonography in experienced hands. As reported in the literature, most patients with primary epiploic appendagitis are treated conservatively without surgery, with or without anti-inflammatory drugs. A small number of patients are treated with antibiotics and some patients require surgical intervention to ensure therapeutic success. Symptoms of primary epiploic appendagitis usually resolve with or without treatment within a few days. A correct diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis with imaging procedures enables conservative and successful outpatient management of the condition and avoids unnecessary surgical intervention and associated additional health-care costs. Gastroenterologists and all medical personnel should be aware of this rare disease, which mimics many other intra-abdominal acute and subacute conditions, such as diverticulitis, cholecystitis and appendicitis. This article reviews epiploic appendagitis and includes discussion of clinical findings, pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapeutic possibilities.
authors.affiliation: General Practice for General Internal Medicine, Haupstrasse 5, A-8940 Liezen, Austria. w.schnedl@dr-schnedl.at
authors.forename: Wolfgang J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Schnedl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tafeit
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tillich
authors.forename: Rainer W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wallner-Liebmann
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents