Kosaraju Sriya,  Errampalli Eric,  Illimoottil Mathew,  Priya Lakshmi,  Orscheln Emily

Final Pr. ID: Poster #: EDU-046

Appendicitis is an important cause of abdominal pain and is the leading reason for emergent surgery in children. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is important because delayed diagnosis increases the risk of rupture and false positive diagnosis may result in unnecessary surgery. While it can occur at any age, it most frequently occurs in pediatric patients. Further, the rate of perforation is higher in younger children. However, the differential diagnosis for pediatric abdominal pain is broad and includes many non-surgical diagnoses. Localization of pain can also be more difficult in children, posing an additional challenge. In this educational exhibit, we will discuss some clinical mimics of appendicitis and characteristic imaging findings to help differentiate them. Topics covered include omental infarct, typically a self-limited condition, but a cause of abdominal pain that has been identified in 0.024 to 0.1% of cases of surgery for appendicitis. In the rare cases that do require surgery, the surgical approach differs from that for appendicitis. In addition, we will discuss epiploic appendagitis, yet another self limiting condition in which proper diagnosis prevents unnecessary surgery. We will discuss Meckel’s diverticulum, which when inflamed may mimic acute appendicitis very closely in imaging appearance as well as clinical presentation. However, these entities can be differentiated if the inflamed structure can be identified as arising from the ileum rather than the cecum. Finally, we will also discuss other clinical appendicitis mimics such as mesenteric adenitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ileocolic intussusception, and ovarian torsion, and we will contrast the imaging appearance of lymphoid hyperplasia of the appendix with acute appendicitis. Read More

Authors:  Kosaraju Sriya , Errampalli Eric , Illimoottil Mathew , Priya Lakshmi , Orscheln Emily

Keywords:  appendicitis, omental infarct, abdomen

Gnesda Ryan,  Lewis Heidi,  Kucera Jennifer

Final Pr. ID: Poster #: EDU-091

Intraperitoneal focal fat infarction is an umbrella term used to describe numerous pathologies with the two most common encountered in clinical practice being epiploic appendagitis and omental infarction. The clinical presentation often mimics an acute abdomen, which can lead to inappropriate management of the patient. While there is ample literature regarding the imaging appearance of focal fat infarction in adults, little exists regarding the imaging findings in children. The purpose of this exhibit is to demonstrate the imaging features which will allow radiologists to confidently diagnose focal fat infarction and differentiate it from more emergent causes of an acute abdomen. We will also discuss the prognosis and appropriate management, usually conservative, which is a significant difference from other causes of an acute abdomen. Read More

Authors:  Gnesda Ryan , Lewis Heidi , Kucera Jennifer

Keywords:  Acute Abdomen, Epiploic Appendagitis, Omental Infarct