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Omental infarction and its mimics: imaging features of acute abdominal conditions presenting with fat stranding greater than the degree of bowel wall thickening

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Abstract

The segmental omental infarction is a rare self-limited disorder presenting with aspecific clinical symptoms that may mimic several acute abdominal conditions. Therefore, a correct noninvasive diagnosis is important because treatment approaches range from monitoring to surgery. As omental infarction results in an important fat stranding that is much greater than the degree of bowel wall thickening, it suggests a narrower differential diagnosis: appendicitis, diverticulitis, epiploic appendagitis, and mesenteric panniculitis. In this pictorial essay, we point out the importance of imaging in identifying this typical sign allowing alternate diagnoses such as segmental omental infarction that can be conservatively managed.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Radiology, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy

    Michele Tonerini

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy

    Francesca Calcagni, Silvia Lorenzi, Paola Scalise, Alessandro Grigolini & Pietro Bemi

Authors
  1. Michele Tonerini
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  2. Francesca Calcagni
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  3. Silvia Lorenzi
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  4. Paola Scalise
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  5. Alessandro Grigolini
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  6. Pietro Bemi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michele Tonerini.

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Tonerini, M., Calcagni, F., Lorenzi, S. et al. Omental infarction and its mimics: imaging features of acute abdominal conditions presenting with fat stranding greater than the degree of bowel wall thickening. Emerg Radiol 22, 431–436 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-015-1302-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-015-1302-0

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