Association between mesenteric panniculitis and urolithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare condition and refers to benign and nonspecific inflammation of mesenteric fat. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis of a greater prevalence of mesenteric panniculitis in patients with urolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, abdominopelvic CT scans of 500 patients were reviewed for the presence of urolithiasis and mesenteric panniculitis. The inclusion criteria were patients who were referred with acute abdominal pain and were suspected of having urolithiasis or other urinary conditions and who had undergone abdominopelvic CT scan. Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured, and pain intensity was recorded by patient evaluation. RESULTS: Mesenteric panniculitis was found in 10 patients, all of whom (100%) had urinary stones (ureter or kidney or both), and none of them had previous surgeries or known malignancies. The prevalence of panniculitis was significantly greater in the group with urolithiasis. In the urolithiasis group, subcutaneous fat thickness was greater in patients with panniculitis, although the difference was not statistically significant. In the subgroup analysis, pain intensity was not significantly greater in patients with panniculitis. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric panniculitis is more prevalent among patients with urolithiasis, but it seems that it does not change the intensity of the pain.

Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting With Small Bowel Obstruction in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report.

Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) is a rare inflammatory disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the mesenteric adipose tissue. While SM can manifest with various gastrointestinal symptoms, its association with small bowel obstruction (SBO) is infrequent. We present a case of a 78-year-old male with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with acute abdominal pain and distention. The patient had multiple admissions with the same symptoms. A CT scan showed swirling of the proximal central mesentery, small bowel malrotation with volvulus, and high-grade mechanical obstruction of the proximal jejunum. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, with findings significant for multiple inflammatory nodules in the mesentery. These were causing adhesions between the bowel and mesentery, resulting in a volvulus of the bowel. One segment was resected, and subsequent histopathological examination revealed subserosal fibrosis and chronic inflammation. The clinical scenario was consistent with a diagnosis of SM. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing SBO in the presence of SM and SLE. Further research is needed to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and improve management techniques for this rare clinical condition.

[Small bowel obstruction with an unusual background]. / Egy szokatlan hátteru vékonybél ileus.

Bevezetés: Kompressziós vékonybél ileus esetét ismertetjük, amelyet a bélfodor nem gyakori, inflammatorikus természetu betegsége, mesenterialis panniculitis idézett elo. A magyar szakirodalomban ilyen közléssel nem találkoztunk. Esetismertetés: A 91 éves férfi akut hasi panaszokkal került kórházba. A vizsgálatokkal vékonybél ileus derült ki. Ennek hátterében mutétkor malignitásra gyanús, bélfodri multinodularis elváltozást fedtünk föl. A biopsziából mesenterialis panniculitist diagnosztizáltunk. A ritka, több nyitott kérdéssel terhelt entitást mutatjuk be az irodalom és a saját észleleteink tükrében. Következtetések: Számos differenciáldiagnosztikai eshetoség figyelembevételével a kórkép szövettanilag igazolható. A diagnózis felállítása után a további teendoket az egyéb leletek és az adott klinikai kontextus gondos elemzése fogja meghatározni.

Diagnostic Dilemma: IgG4-Related Sclerosing Mesenteritis Mimicking an Abdominal Malignancy Enveloping the Superior Mesenteric Artery.

Sclerosing mesenteritis, a rare fibroinflammatory disease affecting the mesentery, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its varied clinical manifestations and unknown etiology. We present a case of a 50-year-old female presenting with epigastric pain and weight loss, initially suspected of abdominal malignancy. Imaging revealed a mesenteric mass, and histopathological examination confirmed dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with storiform fibrosis, along with elevated serum IgG4 levels, indicative of IgG4-related sclerosing mesenteritis. Treatment with thalidomide and prednisolone resulted in significant mass regression and symptom improvement. Our case highlights the importance of considering sclerosing mesenteritis in the differential diagnosis of abdominal masses and suggests a potential therapeutic approach for this rare condition. Further research is warranted to elucidate its pathogenesis and optimize management strategies.

Relapsing sclerosing mesenteritis with multiple strictures of the small intestine.

Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) is a rare disorder that involves the mesenteric adipose tissue with chronic fibrosing inflammation. Few reports mention the natural history of severe SM cases. Here, we report a severe and relapsing SM case in which a long-term natural history could be followed. The patient had undergone surgery for small bowel stenosis of unknown cause 10 years earlier. He had stopped visiting the hospital at his discretion. He was admitted to the hospital 10 years later due to recurrent symptoms, and a close examination revealed multiple small intestinal strictures; thus, surgery was performed again. The pathological results revealed that the patient had SM, corticosteroid administration dramatically improved his symptoms, and he has maintained remission for a long time.

Idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis presenting with small bowel volvulus in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare disorder involving inflammation of the mesentery. Its etiology remains unclear, but it is believed to be associated with previous abdominal surgery, trauma, autoimmune disorders, infection, or malignancy. Clinical manifestations of sclerosing mesenteritis are varied and include chronic abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, weight loss, formation of an intra-abdominal mass, bowel obstruction, and chylous ascites. Here, we present a case of idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis with small bowel volvulus in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome. CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old female presented with recurrent small bowel obstruction. Imaging and pathological findings were consistent with sclerosing mesenteritis causing mesenteric and small bowel volvulus. Computed tomography scans also revealed pulmonary embolism, and the patient was started on a high dose of corticosteroid and a therapeutic dose of anticoagulants. The patient subsequently improved clinically and was discharged. The patient was also diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome after a hematological workup. CONCLUSION: Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare condition, and patients with no clear etiology should be considered for treatment with immunosuppressive therapy.

Sclerosing mesenteritis following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

PURPOSE: Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM), a fibroinflammatory process of the mesentery, can rarely occur after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy; however, its clinical significance and optimal management are unclear. We aimed to assess the characteristics and disease course of patients who developed SM following ICI therapy at a single tertiary cancer center. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 12 eligible adult cancer patients between 05/2011 and 05/2022. Patients' clinical data were evaluated and summarized. RESULTS: The median patient age was 71.5 years. The most common cancer types were gastrointestinal, hematologic, and skin. Eight patients (67%) received anti-PD-1/L1 monotherapy, 2 (17%) received anti-CTLA-4 monotherapy, and 2 (17%) received combination therapy. SM occurred after a median duration of 8.6 months from the first ICI dose. Most patients (75%) were asymptomatic on diagnosis. Three patients (25%) reported abdominal pain, nausea, and fever and received inpatient care and corticosteroid treatment with symptom resolution. No patients experienced SM recurrence after the completion of corticosteroids. Seven patients (58%) experienced resolution of SM on imaging. Seven patients (58%) resumed ICI therapy after the diagnosis of SM. CONCLUSIONS: SM represents an immune-related adverse event that may occur after initiation of ICI therapy. The clinical significance and optimal management of SM following ICI therapy remains uncertain. While most cases were asymptomatic and did not require active management or ICI termination, medical intervention was needed in select symptomatic cases. Further large-scale studies are needed to clarify the association of SM with ICI therapy.

Thoracoabdominal manifestations of immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) comprises a group of immune-mediated diseases that, until recently, were considered separate entities. These entities have a similar clinical presentation, serological findings, and pathogenesis, so they are currently considered a single multisystemic disease. The common characteristic is the infiltration of involved tissues by plasma cells and lymphocytes that are positive for IgG4. Three major criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of IgG4-RD: clinical, laboratory, and histological. The pancreas is the organ that is most affected by IgG4-RD, which can simulate a tumor. In this respect, a series of signs could help us suspect that the pancreatic findings do not reflect a tumor (halo sign, duct-penetrating sign, absence of vascular invasion, etc.). The differential diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.

Manifestaciones toracoabdominales de las enfermedades relacionadas con la inmunoglobulina G4 / Thoracoabdominal manifestations of immunoglobulin G4-related disease

Las enfermedades relacionadas con la IgG4 (ER-IgG4) son un conjunto de enfermedades inmunomediadas que, hasta no hace mucho tiempo, se consideraban como entidades individuales. Se ha demostrado la existencia de una clínica, una serología y una patogenia similares, por lo que, actualmente, se considera como una única enfermedad multisistémica. Su característica común es la infiltración de los tejidos afectados por células plasmáticas y linfocitos IgG4 positivos. Se han propuesto 3 criterios mayores para su diagnóstico, que son el clínico, el analítico y el anatomopatológico. El páncreas es el órgano que más se afecta en esta enfermedad, pudiendo simular un proceso tumoral. De ahí que se haya descrito una serie de signos que podrían hacernos sospechar que no se trata de una neoplasia (signo del halo, del conducto penetrante, ausencia de invasión vascular, etc.). El diagnóstico diferencial es importante de cara a evitar cirugías innecesarias (AU)

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) comprises a group of immune-mediated diseases that, until recently, were considered separate entities. These entities have a similar clinical presentation, serological findings, and pathogenesis, so they are currently considered a single multisystemic disease. The common characteristic is the infiltration of involved tissues by plasma cells and lymphocytes that are positive for IgG4. Three major criteria have been proposed for the diagnosis of IgG4-RD: clinical, laboratory, and histological. The pancreas is the organ that is most affected by IgG4-RD, which can simulate a tumor. In this respect, a series of signs could help us suspect that the pancreatic findings do not reflect a tumor (halo sign, duct-penetrating sign, absence of vascular invasion, etc.). The differential diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions (AU)

Successful treatment of sclerosing mesenteritis with tamoxifen monotherapy.

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare disorder characterized by fat necrosis, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis of the small bowel mesentery. With a paucity of published clinical trials on sclerosing mesenteritis, treatment is based on case reports and trials of other fibrosing diseases, such as idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. We present a case of a 68-year-old woman with sclerosing mesenteritis who exhibited complete symptomatic and radiographic resolution with the use of tamoxifen monotherapy.

Sclerosing Mesenteritis Managed Conservatively With Prednisone.

The authors present the case of a middle-aged lady with two weeks of abdominal pain. Computed tomography imaging revealed sclerosing mesenteritis. Sclerosing mesenteritis is also known as mesenteric panniculitis and is a chronic fibrosing inflammatory disease that primarily affects the adipose tissue of the mesentery in the small intestine and colon. The clinical presentation, imaging findings, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic management are presented in this report. In our patient's case, she was able to be managed conservatively, without the need for surgery. This reflects the most benign and self-limiting natural history of the disease.

An Uncommon Expression of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-Related Disease: Sclerosing Mesenteritis Concomitant With IgG4-Related Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

A 63-year-old male presented to our oncological hospital with a one-year evolving abdominal pain, with an abdominal mass feeling. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography displayed two soft tissue masses, one at the mesentery root and the second around the pancreatic tail; at the same time the patient presented with hyperlipasemia. Endoscopic biopsy for the pancreatic mass and surgical biopsy of the mesenteric one were performed in order to narrow diagnosis. No neoplastic cells but only dense fibro-inflammatory changes with immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-positive plasma cell inclusions were observed for both biopsies. A diagnostic and therapeutic strategy based on high suspicion of IgG4-related disease was adopted, with good clinical and imaging response to corticotherapy.

Key signs indicating mesenteric panniculitis.

Since patients with mesenteric panniculitis (MP) present non-specific symptoms, diagnosing MP is challenging. We describe a 45-year-old man who developed MP with radiologic findings of a "fat ring sign" and a "tumoral pseudocapsule sign." These signs shown in the present case are crucial for a precise diagnosis of MP.

Sclerosing Mesenteritis: A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain.

Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) is a rare inflammatory fibrotic disease of the small intestine mesenteric fat often discovered incidentally on a CT scan. Clinical manifestations depend on the mass effect on the viscera and vessels. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea. SM occurs predominantly in Caucasian men, during the fifth to seventh decades of life. We present a 69-year-old woman with SM whose symptoms were thought to be from irritable bowel syndrome. A 69-year-old female with a history of fibromyalgia presented with recurrent bouts of abdominal pain across her mid-abdomen lasting 30 minutes to an hour associated with nausea, alternating constipation and diarrhea with occasional mucus, and bloating. She used bismuth subsalicylate and ondansetron with temporary relief. Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy were unrevealing. Initially, she was felt to have irritable bowel. Later she presented with nausea and right upper quadrant pain and underwent cholecystectomy. When her pain recurred, the patient had a CT abdomen and pelvis which showed multiple sub-centimeter mesenteric lymph nodes with surrounding haziness and stranding in the root of the mesentery consistent with SM. The patient had a pannus biopsy showing fat necrosis that confirmed the diagnosis. She continued to have waxing and waning symptoms over several years and in the interim was diagnosed with melanoma limited to the skin. The patient had a particularly severe episode of abdominal pain prompting a repeat CT scan with a subsequent biopsy of an enlarged left para-aortic lymph node that revealed lymphoma. Our patient's diagnosis of SM was delayed as her symptoms were mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. Worsening symptoms should alert clinicians to an alternate diagnosis such as SM. There are characteristic radiographic findings on CT scans and biopsy of the lesions. SM's association with neoplastic diseases such as lymphoma, melanoma, colorectal, and prostate cancer is controversial, however, practitioners should be aware of this possibility and consider biopsy for any suspicious lesions.

Mesenteric Panniculitis, Sclerosing Mesenteritis and Mesenteric Lipodystrophy: Descriptive Review of a Rare Condition.

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is the preferred nomenclature for a continuum of inflammatory diseases of the mesentery. The diagnosis of MP is often based on the appearance of a mass-like structure at the root of the mesentery. Characteristic histology includes focal fat necrosis, chronic inflammation, and sometimes mesenteric fibrosis. At present, robust literature related to diagnosis and management of MP are limited. MP is postulated to be an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory and/or a paraneoplastic disease. A personal or family history of other autoimmune diseases is commonly apparent. Several inciting events have been identified that possibly act as triggers in the development of the disease. Trauma, abdominal surgery, infection, and various cancers have been associated with mesenteric panniculitis. There are several diagnostic and histologic criteria that aid in making the diagnosis of MP. The differential diagnosis for a mesenteric mass includes neoplastic disease, and a biopsy may be indicated to rule out other conditions. While cases of MP with a short duration of symptoms, or spontaneously regression may occur, some patients experience prolonged periods of pain, fever, and alterations in bowel habit, causing significant morbidity. A variety of medical therapies have been suggested for MP. Only two, thalidomide and low-dose naltrexone, have been prospectively evaluated. For patients with chronic MP, good responses to prolonged corticosteroid treatment have been reported. Novel therapies include thalidomide and low-dose naltrexone. Hormonal and immunomodulatory therapies are also used based on small case series, but these treatments may have significant side effects. Surgical intervention is not curative and is avoided except for relief of focal bowel obstruction secondary to fibrotic forms of the disease.

Imaging of Mischievous Intra-abdominal Fat Presenting with Abdominal Pain: A Pictorial Review.

Aim: To briefly discuss the imaging features of different types of intra-abdominal fat necrosis. Background: Trauma and ischemic insult may result in intra-abdominal fat necrosis. Fat necrosis may present with acute abdomen, clinically simulating with other etiologies, such as acute diverticulitis and acute appendicitis. Main body: Imaging plays a crucial role in making the exact diagnosis and differentiating it from other pathologies that may require surgical intervention. Computed tomography (CT) is the most commonly used imaging modality. A small fat attenuation lesion with a hyperattenuating rim in contact with the ventral surface of the sigmoid colon indicates epiploic appendagitis while a larger fat-attenuation lesion on the right side of the abdomen in between the colon and anterior abdominal wall indicates omental infarction. Fat stranding at the root of the mesentery with fat ring sign represents inflammatory mesenteric panniculitis while retractile or sclerosing mesenteritis appears as a fibrotic spiculated mass with or without calcification, mimicking mesenteric carcinoid. In patients with acute pancreatitis, the amount of inflamed fat correlates with clinical severity and outcome. Conclusions: Familiarity with the imaging features of different types of intraabdominal fat necrosis helps in establishing an accurate diagnosis, thus avoiding unnecessary intervention. How to cite this article: Patel RK, Mittal S, Singh S. Imaging of Mischievous Intra-abdominal Fat Presenting with Abdominal Pain: A Pictorial Review. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2022;12(1):45-49.

Mesenteric panniculitis is associated with cardiovascular risk-factors: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the prevalence of cardiovascular risk-factors in patients with mesenteric panniculitis. AIMS: To determine whether cardiovascular risk-factors and mesenteric panniculitis are associated. METHODS: Retrospective, matched case-control study of patients referred to Meir Medical Center, Israel, 2014-2019, who underwent computerized tomography scan, were diagnosed mesenteric panniculitis by radiologic criteria. They were compared to two, matched case-control groups: hospitalized patients without mesenteric panniculitis and the general population based on Israeli Ministry of Health surveys. Patients with active malignancy, IBD or significant intra-abdominal morbidity were excluded. RESULTS: Of 376 patients with mesenteric panniculitis diagnosed by computerized tomography, 187 were included. Compared to hospital patients, they had higher incidence of dyslipidemia (77.5%/56.7%), hypertension (52.4%/40.6%), obesity (body mass index>30) (60.4%/30.5%) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (42.2%/16.6%). Similar differences were observed compared to the general population. In multivariable logistic regression, dyslipidemia, obesity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were independent predictors for mesenteric panniculitis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mesenteric panniculitis have more cardiovascular risk-factors compared to a case-control group and to the general population. This suggests that mesenteric panniculitis is clinically significant and may be part of the metabolic morbidity burden. This association should be further explored.

Sclerosing Mesenteritis as an Uncommon Site of Involvement of IgG4-Related Disease: A Case Report With an Updated Review of the Literature.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an uncommon immune-mediated disorder most commonly involving the pancreas, lacrimal, and salivary glands. Immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing mesenteritis (IgG4-RSM) is a rare site of involvement that usually mimics the imaging characteristics of mesenteric malignancies. Herein, we report a case of IgG4-RSM followed by an updated and comprehensive review of the literature. A 73-year-old woman presented with colicky abdominal pain in the right hypochondrium. The findings on contrast medium computed tomography (CMCT) showed a swelling of the mesenteric root with vascular structures surrounded by slightly contrast-impregnated tissue and irregular margins. The 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET) showed an area of inhomogeneous and intense hypermetabolism of the mesenteric root. Hence, laparoscopic resection of the mesenteric root was performed to distinguish such masses from malignant tumors, obtaining specimens for histopathologic examination. The latter exhibited tissue infiltration with lymphocytes, IgG4-positive plasma cells, and fibrosis, indicating a diagnosis of IgG4-RSM in the presence of both elevated serum IgG4 levels and the aforementioned imaging findings. With steroid therapy, no clinical signs of re-exacerbation within a one-year follow-up were observed and serum IgG4 levels returned to normality. Aiming to evaluate the real frequency of IgG4-RSM in view of the 2017 Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria (CDC) of IgG4-RD, we undertook a complete MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus database search of all case reports of IgG4-RSM published so far. Such criteria were met in only six cases with a definite diagnosis. This case highlights the mesentery as a rare site of involvement of IgG-RD and allows us to advance knowledge of IgG4-RSM.

Diagnostic Performance of Point Shear Wave Elastography (pSWE) Using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Technology in Mesenteric Masses: A Feasibility Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound point shear wave elastography (pSWE) using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology in different benign and malignant mesenteric masses (MMs). METHODS: A total of 69 patients with MMs diagnosed from September 2018 to November 2021 were included retrospectively in the study. The inclusion criteria were (1) an MM over 1 cm; (2) valid ARFI measurements; and (3) confirmation of the diagnosis of an MM by histological examination and/or clinical and radiological follow-up. To examine the mean ARFI velocities (MAVs) for potential cut-off values between benign and malignant MMs, a receiver operating characteristics analysis was implemented. RESULTS: In total, 37/69 of the MMs were benign (53.6%) and 32/69 malignant (46.4%). Benign MMs demonstrated significantly lower MAVs than mMMs (1.59 ± 0.93 vs. 2.76 ± 1.01 m/s; p < 0.001). Selecting 2.05 m/s as a cut-off value yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 75.0% and 70.3%, respectively, in diagnosing malignant MMs (area under the curve = 0.802, 95% confidence interval 0.699-0.904). CONCLUSION: ARFI elastography may represent an additional non-invasive tool for differentiating benign from malignant MMs. However, to validate the results of this study, further prospective randomized studies are required.

Peritoneal Cancer Mimicking Sclerosing Mesenteritis: A Case Report.

Peritoneal cancer is a rare disease that typically affects middle-aged women. Sclerosing mesenteritis can have a benign or malignant etiology. Although computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging have been used to differentiate these two diseases, the findings are not always conclusive. Here, we report the case of an older woman who presented with acute abdominal pain. She was initially diagnosed with sclerosing mesenteritis, but the final diagnosis was peritoneal cancer. The initial treatment included antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and prednisolone. Tamoxifen was administered due to persistent symptoms, which were alleviated. However, the patient's cancer antigen 125 levels were elevated, and there were changes in the peritoneal CT findings. The patient was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer based on further investigation of the peritoneum using positron emission tomography-CT and a biopsy. This case report describes the diagnostic process regarding the differentiation between sclerosing mesenteritis and primary peritoneal cancer when the CT findings mimic those of sclerosing mesenteritis in general medicine.