Inflammatory fatty masses of the abdomen

Abstract

While omental infarction (OI) and acute epiploic appendagitis (AEA) often clinically mimic surgical abdomen, their management is distinct. As such, accurate and timely diagnosis is essential to follow medical management. Computed tomography and ultrasound imaging, utilized routinely in the evaluation of acute abdominal pain in the emergent setting, facilitate diagnosis and appropriate management of OI and AEA. The awareness of the clinical manifestations and imaging features of OI, AEA, and their mimics allow the radiologist to play a decisive role in triaging patients into surgical and medical management groups.