Idiopathic Segmental Infarction of Right Sided Greater Omentum. Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Idiopathic right segmental infarction of the greater omentum is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen. The aetiology is still unclear and the symptoms mimick acute appendicitis. We present a case of a 77-year old man with unsignificant medical history, admitted with an acute abdomen, in whom the clinical diagnosis was unknown until an infarcted segment of right side of the greater omentum was found at laparoscopy, and successfully resected. As the aetiology is unknown, we highlighted some of the possible theories, and emphasize the importance of considering omental infarction in the differential diagnosis of right iliac fossa syndrome in cases of acute abdomen.

Key Words:

• Segmental infarction
• greater omentum
• embryogenic theory
• laparoscopy
• acute abdomen

Additional information

Notes on contributors

C.L. Ho

C.L. Ho Route de Dalhem 9/11, B-4600 Visé, Belgium. Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]