title: An omental abscess mimicking an intra-abdominal tumor.
abstract: Here, we report the case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with intermittent lower abdominal pain; subsequently, an intra-abdominal mass found by abdominal ultrasound. Initially, an intra-abdominal tumor was suspected according to the results of the physical examinations, laboratory data, and imaging studies. A surgical excision was performed, and pathological examination revealed an omental abscess without evidence of intestinal perforation or a residual foreign body. The patient's history consisted solely of receiving an open appendectomy for a ruptured appendicitis 2 years prior. This is an extremely rare case of a post-appendectomy omental abscess forming after such a long interval, but no evidence of residual appendiceal tissue or foreign bodies could be identified.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Chiang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chia-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Hou-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009852:Omentum