Introduction:

Epiploic appendagitis is an inflammatory process caused by structural damage due to torsion that generates hemorrhagic or ischemic areas, or by surrounding inflammation that affects the appendages and generates infarction or fat necrosis.

Objective:

To describe the clinical-imaging characteristics of a patient diagnosed with epiploic appendangitis in the course of his COVID-19 infection.

Clinical case report:

We report the case of a white, 48-year-old male patient, diagnosed with COVID-19, who began with an 8-day history of diffuse abdominal pain, which intensified in the last 24 hours at the level of the right iliac fossa, accompanied by fever, nauseous state and taking of the general state. Simple abdominal X-rays were performed, finding regional ileus and computed tomography with double contrast, a hyperdense halo sign compatible with epiploic appendangitis was found. Conservative treatment is decided. Comorbidity with COVID-19 is taken into account. Clinical-imaging follow-up was carried out with favorable evolution with the imposed therapy.

Development:

Epiploic appendagitis is an infrequent cause of abdominal pain, which can simulate an acute abdomen. The evolution of this disease can be self-limited, so conservative management is recommended.

Conclusions:

This research disclosures the clinical-imaging findings of epiploic appendagitis, a little-known entity that can mimic an acute surgical abdomen and lead to unnecessary surgical intervention.

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