GI causes of Acute Abdominal Pain: Case-Based Approach (2023)-M3-CER06-2023

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Robin Levenson from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discusses the gastrointestinal (GI) causes of acute lower abdominal pain and highlights the role of CT imaging in the emergency department. Acute abdominal pain is common and represents a diagnostic challenge due to its broad differential diagnosis. The use of CT imaging has significantly increased over the past two decades, proving valuable in diagnosing conditions such as appendicitis and diverticulitis. She reviews different causes of lower abdominal pain using case studies, emphasizing that appendicitis is the most common surgical cause of right lower quadrant pain, while epiploic appendicitis and Meckel's diverticulitis are among the less common causes. Epiploic appendicitis, often mistaken for appendicitis or diverticulitis, involves inflammation of a fat-containing epiploic appendage. Meckel's diverticulitis, a complication of the congenital Meckel's diverticulum, requires surgical treatment. Other conditions discussed include mucoceles of the appendix and their potential complications. Dr. Levenson stresses the importance of CT in identifying various rare and common conditions, underscoring the necessity of considering a wide range of differential diagnoses when evaluating acute lower abdominal pain.

Keywords

acute lower abdominal pain

CT imaging

gastrointestinal causes

appendicitis

diverticulitis

epiploic appendicitis

Meckel's diverticulitis

diagnostic challenge

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center