Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 May 22;9(1):157-164.
doi: 10.1159/000539432. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

Mesenteric Panniculitis

Cecilio Azar  1 , Mohamad Ali Ibrahim  2 , Zakaria El Kouzi  2 , Ali El Mokahal  3 , Nadine Omran  4 , Nadim Muallem  4 , Ala I Sharara  2
Affiliations
Review

Mesenteric Panniculitis

Cecilio Azar et al. Inflamm Intest Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is an uncommon non-neoplastic idiopathic inflammation of adipose tissue, mainly affecting the mesentery of the small intestine, with its etiology remaining largely speculative. The difference in prevalence of MP among females and males varies across multiple studies. In most cases, MP is asymptomatic; however, patients can present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms or can mimic underlying gastrointestinal and abdominal diseases. The diagnosis is suggested by computed tomography and is usually confirmed by surgical biopsies if necessary. Treatment is generally supportive and based on a few selected drugs, namely, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. Surgery is reserved when the diagnosis is unclear, when malignancy is suspected or in the case of severe presentation such as mass effect, bowel obstruction, or ischemic changes.

Summary: MP is a rare inflammatory condition of the mesentery often asymptomatic but can cause nonspecific abdominal symptoms. Diagnosis relies on computed tomography imaging, with treatment mainly supportive, utilizing medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids, while surgery is reserved for severe cases or diagnostic uncertainty.

Key messages: MP causes abdominal pain, and it is mainly diagnosed with CT scan.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Mesenteric panniculitis; Mesentery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
CT findings in (a) mild and (b) moderate MP showing multiple subcentimetric mesenteric lymph nodes (arrow) with surrounding mesenteric fat stranding (circle), while (c) and (d) show an inflammatory mesenteric fat mass (circle) with hypodense halo (star) around blood vessels.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Proposed diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for the management of suspected MP.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Jura V. Sulla mesenterite retrattile e sclerosante. Policlinico. 1924;31:575–81.
    1. Issa I, Baydoun H. Mesenteric panniculitis: various presentations and treatment regimens. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(30):3827–30. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Emory TS, Monihan JM, Carr NJ, Sobin LH. Sclerosing mesenteritis, mesenteric panniculitis and mesenteric lipodystrophy: a single entity? Am J Surg Pathol. 1997;21(4):392–8. - PubMed
    1. Sharma P, Yadav S, Needham CM, Feuerstadt P. Sclerosing mesenteritis: a systematic review of 192 cases. Clin J Gastroenterol. 2017;10(2):103–11. - PubMed
    1. Danford CJ, Lin SC, Wolf JL. Sclerosing mesenteritis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(6):867–73. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources