Sclerosing mesenteritis: An unusual cause of intestinal obstruction

Abstract

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare, benign, and complex disorder. This is a chronic inflammatory process of mesenteric adipose tissue of unknown etiology. Based on the histopathological spectrum seen i.e., chronic inflammation, fat necrosis, and fibrosis, they are grouped into mesenteric panniculitis, mesenteric lipodystrophy, and sclerosing mesenteritis. Diagnosis is suggested by radio imaging modalities such as computed tomography scan that has to be confirmed by histopathological examination (HPE). Mesenteric panniculitis is usually seen in adults with an average age incidence of 60 years. Males are more affected compared to females. We present two cases of mesenteric panniculitis presenting at a young age of 16 and 20 years, respectively. Many benign and malignant conditions of abdomen mimic mesenteric panniculilitis clinically, which stress on the importance of HPE for definitive management.

Keywords

• Inflammation
• lipodystrophy
• mesenteritis
• panniculitis
• sclerosing