Idiopathic isolated omental panniculitis presenting with intestinal obstruction

Abstract

Intra-abdominal panniculitis is a rare condition characterized by intraperitoneal lipodystrophy that may manifest as a necrotic adipose lump causing symptoms due to inflammation or mass effect. Although this condition tends to primarily affect the root of the mesentery, it may affect any part of the peritoneum, including the omentum. However, isolated omental panniculitis, in which no other site is affected, is a very rare form of intra-abdominal panniculitis and only eight cases have been reported in the literature so far. Mesenteric panniculitis, especially in the late fibrous stage of retractile mesenteritis, is known to occasionally cause intestinal obstruction by virtue of its relation to the bowel. However, omental panniculitis has only been reported to cause nonspecific inflammatory symptoms. We present a case of isolated omental panniculitis of indeterminate etiology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case reported to present with intestinal obstruction.

Keywords

• Obstruction
• omental panniculitis
• sclerosing mesenteritis
• surgery