Case Reports in Gastroenterology (Apr 2009)

Normal Positron Emission Tomography-Computerized Tomogram in a Patient with Apparent Mesenteric Panniculitis: Biopsy Is Still the Answer

  • Eli D. Ehrenpreis,
  • Archana S. Rao,
  • Robert Aki,
  • Heather Brown,
  • Thomas Pae,
  • Ian Boiskin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000213653
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
pp. 131 – 137

Abstract

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Mesenteric panniculitis (also known as sclerosing mesenteritis) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mesenteric connective tissue. It is known to have a wide spectrum of clinical and radiological presentations. In general, biopsy is recommended for diagnosis; however, a recent study proposed that a negative positron emission tomography- computerized tomography (PET-CT) scan is accurate in differentiating benign and neoplastic mesenteric processes [Br J Radiol 2006;79:37–43]. The following case report questions the accuracy of PET-CT in this setting and confirms the requirement for biopsy to rule out the presence of mesenteric lymphoma.

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