Hepatic falciform ligament appendagitis evaluated by ultrasound: A report of 2 cases

Abstract

Falciform ligament appendagitis is an extremely rare disorder, which is characterized by hematogenous or nonhematogenous inflammatory changes in the fat appendage that is contiguous with the falciform ligament. The imaging and clinical features of this condition are similar to those of epiploic appendagitis, especially when caused by torsion of the fatty appendage (ie, falciform ligament appendage torsion). We report 2 cases of falciform ligament appendagitis with localized epigastric pain. The ultrasound imaging features of the 2 cases presented here were an oval hyperechoic mass contiguous with the falciform ligament and increased echogenicity of the surrounding inflammatory fat. Both patients were managed conservatively with symptomatic treatment alone. Understanding the imaging features of this falciform ligament appendagitis is important, because ultrasound is often the first choice for noninvasive imaging of acute abdomen. As there is limited detailed literature on falciform ligament appendagitis comparing high-frequency linear probes with CT and MRI, we consider this case report to add valuable information on this poorly reported condition.

Keywords

• Ultrasound
• MRI
• Falciform ligament
• Falciform ligament appendage torsion
• Falciform ligament appendagitis
• Hepatic falciform ligament appendagitis