ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical features and imaging features of CT in the omental torsion, and in order to reduce the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rate of imaging features. MethodsThe data of 16 cases of omental torsion (secondary 15 cases, primary 1 case) and 286 cases of acute appendicitis (eliminated the subhepatic and retroperitoneal ectopic appendix) in our hospital from 1998 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsEleven cases of omental torsion suffered from the shifting pain in right lower quadrant. No obvious shifting abdominal pain was observed in other 4 cases whose main manifestations were abdominal tenderness and rebound tenderness around umbilicus. The patient of the remaining 1 case had enclosed mass in the area of left groin with pain and suffered from continuous periumbilical pain. Abdominal spiral CT examination was performed in 16 patients before operation. Increased signal intensity of globular soft tissue, which deviating from McBurney's point, was found at level of distal umbilicus by preoperative spiral CT in 13 cases. One case of omental torsion associated with ncarcerated inguinal hernia was missed. ConclusionsOmental torsion manifests chiefly shifting pain in right lower quadrant, abdominal tenderness, and rebound tenderness around umbilicus. It is easily confused with appendicitis. Abdominal spiral CT should be chosen as a preferred means in preoperative diagnosis of omental torsion.