title: Primary omental torsion in a 9 year old girl: a case report.
abstract: Primary torsion of the omentus is an extremely unusual cause of acute abdomen in the pediatric population. This condition occurs from twist of the pedicle of the omental apron around its longer axis, leading to edema, ischaemia and necrosis. Here we present a rare case of a 9 year old girl referred by her general practitioner due to severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain with a presumed diagnosis of acute appendiceal inflammation. Surgical operation disclosed primary omental torsion. The infarcted segment was resected and the girl's clinical recovery was uneventful without any complication. The condition may mimic a variety of other causes of acute abdominal symptoms. In this case report, a presumed diagnosis of acute appendicitis urgently induced the decision of a surgical approach. Physicians involved in the acute pediatric care have to include this rare condition in the differential diagnosis of acute onset right-sided abdominal pain.
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Centre of Kissamos, Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anyfantakis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Saint George General Hospital of Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kastanakis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Saint George General Hospital of Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karona
authors.affiliation: Private Family Practice Unit in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Symvoulakis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Saint George General Hospital of Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fragiadakis
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Saint George General Hospital of Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsougris
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Saint George General Hospital of Chania, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bobolakis
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009852:Omentum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012383:Romania; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: acute abdomen; diagnosis; management; primary omental torsion