title: Idiopathic Renal Infarction Mimicking Appendicitis.
abstract: Renal infarction is a rare cause of referral to the emergency department, with very low estimated incidence (0.004%-0.007%). Usually, it manifests in patients aged 60-70 with risk factors for thromboembolism, mostly related to heart disease, atrial fibrillation in particular. We report a case of idiopathic segmental renal infarction in a 38-year-old patient, presenting with acute abdominal pain with no previous known history or risk factors for thromboembolic diseases. Because of its aspecific clinical presentation, this condition can mimic more frequent pathologies including pyelonephritis, nephrolithiasis, or as in our case appendicitis. Here we highlight the extremely ambiguous presentation of renal infarct and the importance for clinicians to be aware of this condition, particularly in patients without clear risk factors, as it usually has a good prognosis after appropriate anticoagulant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6972-1859
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Serafino
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8047-0517
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Severino
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2395-9639
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gullotto
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lisanti
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, San Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarano