The Image Characteristics of Epiploic Appendagitis on Ultrasound and Computed Tomography

The incidence of the epiploic appendagitis is unknown. However, some of the patients were first to be suspected to have appendicitis or diverticulitis, the percentages were 2% to 7% and 0.3% to 1 %, respectively. Epiploic appendages are small outpouchings of fat-filled structures presented on the colon's surface. The adult usually has 50-100 appendages along the entire colon. Epiploic appendagitis is defined as an ischemic infarction caused by torsion or spontaneous thrombosis of the central draining vein. Epiploic appendagitis is a benign and self-limited condition. However, incorrect diagnosis might lead to unnecessary admission, antibiotics use, or operation.

The patient having epiploic appendagitis usually appeared at our emergency room with the complaint of abdominal pain. There are numerous differential diagnoses when it comes to abdominal pain. Epiploic appendagitis might happen at any part of the colon. Therefore, diverticulitis or appendicitis might be suspected at the first moment. However, epiploic appendagitis might present different image characteristics other than diverticulitis or appendicitis under ultrasound or computed tomography. Some small case number retrospective reviews suggested that epiploic appendagitis was a 2-3cm, oval-shaped, fat density mass with fat stranding under the computed tomography. Under ultrasound, a noncompressible, hyperechoic ovoid mass might impress epiplopic appendagitis.

As ultrasound has become a more and more useful and convenient diagnostic tool in the emergency room, we could diagnose epiploic appendagitis quickly and correctly to reduce unnecessary management.

We would like to compare the image characteristics between the ultrasound image and the computer tomography image to help us to diagnose appendigitis with ultrasound in the future. Furthermore, we would also like to compare the computed tomography image of epiploic appendagitis in different locations.