# A False Alarm of Acute Abdomen: Epiploic Appendagitis Case Report and Literature Review

## TL;DR

This case report highlights a rare cause of acute abdomen, epiploic appendagitis, which can be mistaken for more serious conditions but often resolves with conservative treatment.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the importance of recognizing epiploic appendagitis through imaging to avoid unnecessary surgery.

## Key findings

- Epiploic appendagitis can mimic appendicitis and diverticulitis but may resolve with a single dose of ibuprofen.
- Imaging findings on CT and ultrasound are key to diagnosing epiploic appendagitis and avoiding unnecessary surgery.

## Abstract

An acute abdomen that is tender to palpation often represents a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate surgical or medical management. We present a case of acute abdomen with peritoneal signs and symptoms due to epiploic appendagitis (EA) that resolved with a single dose of ibuprofen. EA often mimics appendicitis, diverticulitis, and rarely cholecystitis based on its location. It arises due to ischemic infarction of an epiploic appendage, typically caused by torsion or spontaneous thrombosis of the central draining vein. Despite its rarity, clinicians need to recognize the characteristic imaging findings of EA on CT and ultrasound to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions and to manage the condition conservatively.