Primitive abscess of the great epiploon: clinical case and literature review.

BACKGROUND

The primitive abscess of the great epiploon often poses a pre-operative diagnosis problem. The clinical picture associates an abdominal pain and an inflammatory syndrome.

METHODS

The diagnosis is essentially based on the imaging data and the exploratory laparoscopy. The treatment consists in performing a drainage of the abscess and an epiploic resection "on demand" preserving healthy tissues, as well as giving antibiotics.

RESULTS

The patient has been treated successfully by coelioscopy and a partial epiploic resection was performed with uncomplicated post-operative outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The primitive abscess of the great epiploon remains a rare pathology of uncertain etiology. The coelioscopy is the best method to rectify or to comfirm pre-operative diagnosis and to perform treatment avoiding the inconveniences of the laparotomy.