A retrospective review is presented of seven cases of epiploic appendagitis, with surgical confirmation in one case. The main clinico-analytical data and the US and CT findings are described, as well as the histopathologic features in the sole case that underwent surgical resection. We also calculated the frequency of this entity in patients undergoing emergency abdominal US on clinical suspicion of diverticulitis. In all seven cases the clinico-analytical evidence was nonspecific (localized acute abdominal pain and slight leukocytosis), mimicking in six cases the clinical presentation of sigmoid diverticulitis and in one case that of acute appendicitis. US imaging findings were characteristic: a hyperechoic mass localized under the point of maximum pain, adjacent to the anterior peritoneal wall and fixed during deep breathing. In none of the cases did color Doppler US show flow. CT findings were also typical and showed a mass with a peripheral hyperattenuated rim surrounding an area of fatty attenuation. Overall 7.1 % of patients investigated to exclude sigmoid diverticulitis finally showed findings of primary epiploic appendagitis. Primary epiploic appendagitis thus shows characteristic US and CT findings that allow its diagnosis and follow-up. This entity is much more frequent than previously reported, especially in patients referred for US to exclude sigmoid diverticulitis.

Breast metastases from extramammary tumours are rare with few cases reported. Four cases of metastasis to the breast are presented and the diagnostic problems of this condition are reviewed. Correlation between the histology of primary tumour and the cytology of breast metastatic tumour can avoid the surgical breast biopsy and unnecessary mastectomy. Metastasis to the breast has poor prognosis.

The preoperative diagnosis of gallstone ileus significantly increases by combining plain film and US findings.

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Ultrasound is useful in the assessment of patients with possible appendicitis. A diagnosis of appendicitis can be made in patients with persistent right lower quadrant pain when a non-compressible appendix greater than 6 mm in diameter is shown. When a normal appendix is affected by an adjacent lesion, reactive inflammation can cause secondary enlargement of the appendix. This article reviews ultrasound findings in conditions which can clinically mimic acute appendicitis. Examples of Crohn's disease, tuboovarian abscess, typhilitis, sigmoid diverticulitis, perforated sigmoid neoplasm, perforated peptic ulcer, perforated acute cholecystitis, caecal carcinoma and appendiceal tumours are included.

Appendicular involvement in Crohn's disease is a relatively frequent event (21%). Sonography and color Doppler sonography may be useful for differentiating Crohn's disease with appendicular involvement from acute appendicitis.

No abstract

We describe four patients in whom ultrasound (US) and/or computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a thickened appendix, secondarily enlarged due to perforated sigmoid diverticulitis (n = 2) or carcinoma (n = 2). The underlying pathology was correctly recognized in all cases. Secondary thickening of the appendix due to perforated sigmoid disease provides a potential pitfall mainly on US and may lead to an incorrect diagnosis and thus to unnecessary surgery or a wrong surgical intervention. Although US alone is enough to diagnose periappendicitis and sigmoid disease, combined use of US and CT may improve assessment of its origin and extension.