Primary idiopathic segmental infarction of the greater omentum: report of four cases and review of literature.

Abstract

Idiopathic omental infarction is one of the rare causes of acute abdomen which is usually not diagnosed preoperatively, but found unexpectedly on exploration of the abdomen. This disease, though rare, is important to the surgeon becauses it mimics the common causes of acute abdomen. The first case of omental infarction was reported by Bush 6 in 1896. Other terms used to describe this clinical entity are acute segmental infarction, omental infarction, omental segmental infarction, spontaneous infarction of the greater omentum, hemorrhagic infarction of the greater omentum, thrombosis of the omentum, hemorrhage into the greater omentum, omental torsion, omental volvulus, acute epiploitis, etc. It is our opinion that the most correct term for this disease is primary idiopathic segmental infarction of the greater omentum. Wrizeresinski et al. 43 postulated the following criteria which are required for every case: 1. The infarction of the greater omentum must be idiopathic, of no