Cholangiocarcinoma with Regional Lymph Node Metastasis Masquerading as Sclerosing Mesenteritis / 대한췌담도학회지

ABSTRACT

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare disease presenting as chronic inflammation and fibrosis of mesentery around the small and large intestine. And in most cases, it shows indolent and benign clinical course resulting in favorable prognosis. It is often diagnosed through characterized radiologic finding in abdominal examinations including computed tomography scan. However, it is important to rule out other conditions involving mesentery when diagnosing sclerosing mesenteritis. In the case of malignancy, the method of treatment and prognosis can be completely different therefore thorough examinations are essential. We herein report a 75-year-old male who suffered from frequent diarrhea and weight loss. Initially, he was diagnosed with sclerosing mesenteritis through abdominal computed tomography scan showing "misty" soft-tissue attenuation around the mesenteric vessel. However, follow up positron emission tomography scan and biopsy finding confirmed the common bile duct cancer with lymph node metastasis.