CLINICAL REPORTS   

Chirurgia 1999 February;12(1):75-8

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Spontaneous hematoma of the rectus abdominis muscle

Manco G., Fumo F., Fumo M., Marano I.

Abdominal wall hematoma is a rare cause of acute abdomen. The importance of a correct anamnesis and clinical findings in the presence of abdominal pain with palpable mass is stressed. Two cases of rectus sheath hematoma are presented: the first in a 45-year-old woman caused by coughing, the second in a 83-year-old woman under anticoagulant therapy after straining for constipation. Due to hemodynamic complications, both patients underwent surgery. Sonography and Computed Tomography are requested to confirm diagnosis though, in the second case, CT scan misled an abdominal wall hematoma as a large mass possibly originating from the right ovary.