Omental Infarction: A Self-Limiting Disease

Omental infarct in a hernia: an unusual cause of paediatric acute scrotum

We report a case of paediatric acute scrotum due to segmental haemorrhagic infarct of the omentum secondary to strangulation in the left inguinal hernia in a toddler as initial presentation after hernia being noticed by mother once earlier. A 4-year-old boy with non-traumatic acute left scrotum who had a history of left inguinal swelling once earlier presented with massively swollen, painful and discoloured left hemiscrotum extending into the groin simulating acute testicular torsion. Interestingly, there was a segmental omental infarct which precipitated the emergency and had ipsilateral testicular ascent and atrophy as long-term sequelae. Strangulated segmental omental infarct is a rare cause of acute abdomen/scrotum in children. Omentum is a very rare content of inguinal hernia in a toddler and infarct is exceptional. The diagnosis is usually not established before surgery in children. It should be included in the differential diagnoses of acute scrotum, especially in patients with untreated inguinal hernia.

Segmental omental infarction

Acute right-sided abdominal pain is a common presenting symptom in the emergency department. Acute cholecystitis and acute appendicitis are the most likely etiologies for right upper and lower quadrant pain, respectively. However, other differential possibilities include right-sided diverticulitis and perforated colon carcinoma. This case report of an 18-year-old man with segmental omental infarction highlights a much less frequent, self-limited cause of right-sided abdominal pain, which is increasingly identified on computed tomography scans.