[Chilaiditi's syndrome: a rare cause of abdominal pain in the differential diagnosis of the abdominal perforation. Case report].

A case of a 92-years-old patient with abdominal pain and constipation is presented. He reported a recent traumatic fracture of the upper limb. Traditional diagnostic work-up for patient with abdominal pain was started up. He was submitted to abdominal film that demonstrated air underneath the diaphragm suggestive for perforation. This hallmark is opposed to clinical condition of patient, so differential diagnosis for rare Chilaiditi's syndrome was considered, because this syndrome is frequent in old patient. Diagnostic work-up was completed with upper abdominal CT that excluded intestinal perforation and confirmed the diagnosis of Chilaiditi's syndrome showing hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the dilated colon. Therefore it was decided in favour of medical therapy. In the our case, in spite of negative clinical examination, the uncertain radiological hallmark obliged us to exclude diagnosis of abdominal perforative syndrome that needs emergency operation. Although the Chilaiditi's syndrome is rare, it must be considerated in differential diagnosis of perforative abdominal syndrome, when there are doubts about the subdiaphragmatic air in abdominal film.