Abstract
Eighteen cases of mesenteric panniculitis of the colon collected from the literature, together with two cases from the authors' source, were reviewed. The disease occurred most often in late adult life, with a male predominance. Symptoms were abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and a lower abdominal mass in most patients. Barium enema disclosed narrowing, shortening, and poor extensibility of the colon, and ultrasonography and computed tomography showed thickening of the mesocolon and colonic wall with soft-tissue density. Exploratory laparotomy was done in all patients, and colectomy, colostomy, or other surgical treatments were performed in 17 (85 percent). Gross appearance at the time of surgery was characterized by a marked thickening or a firm mass of the mesocolon with a puckered surface involving the appendices epiploicae of the colon. Microscopically, degeneration of the adipose tissue, revealed by aggregates of lipid-laden macrophages, was diagnostic. Inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis also were present in many patients. Mesenteric panniculitis of the colon seems to be a lesion more advaced than the same condition of the small intestine, and colostomy or bypass surgery may be needed for alleviation of severe symptoms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ogden WW, Bradburn DM, Rives JD. Mesenteric panniculitis: review of 27 cases. Ann Surg 1965;161:864–75.
Handelsman JC, Shelley WM. Mesenteric panniculitis. Arch Surg 1965;91:842–50.
Jura V. Sulla mesenterite retrattile e sclerosante. Policlinico (Sez Prat) 1924;31:575–81.
Reske M, Namiki H. Sclerosing mesenteritis: report of two cases. Am J Clin Pathol 1975;64:661–7.
Durst AL, Freund H, Rosenmann E, Birnbaum D. Mesenteric panniculitis: review of the literature and presentation of cases. Surgery 1977;81:203–11.
Kipfer RE, Moertel CG, Dahlin DC. Mesenteric lipodystrophy. Ann Intern Med 1974;80:582–8.
Pallette EM, Pallette EC, Harrington RW. Sclerosing lipogranulomatosis: its several abdominal syndromes. Arch Surg 1967;94: 803–10.
Williams RG, Nelson JA. Retractile mesenteritis: initial presentation as colonic obstruction. Radiology 1978;126:35–7.
Hartz R, Stryker S, Sparberg M, Poticha SM. Mesenteric tumefactions. Am Surg 1980;46:525–9.
Thompson G, Fitzgerald EF, Somers SS. Retractile mesenteritis of the sigmoid colon. Br J Radiol 1985;58:266–7.
Katz ME, Heiken JP, Glazer HS, Lee JK. Intraabdominal panniculitis: clinical, radiographic, and CT features. Am J Radiol 1985;145:293–6.
Steely WM, Gooden SM. Sclerosing mesocolitis. Dis Colon Rectum 1986;29:266–8.
Yoshitsugu M, Sassa R, Iwase T, et al. A very rare case of chronic panniculitis localized at the mesentery of the sigmoid colon. Stomach Intestine 1979;14:1401–5.
Oyama K, Hayashi S, Kogure T, Hirakawa K, Akaike A. Inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula: report of a case and review of the literature. Nippon Act Radiol 1980;40:944–50.
Sato T, Kamano T, Kondo K, et al. A case of mesenteric panniculitis diagnosed before operation and cured by colostomy. Jpn J Gastroenterol 1984;81:2582–7.
Carillo FJ, Ruzicka FF, Clemett AR. Value of angiography in the diagnosis of retractile mesenteritis. Am J Radiol 1972;115:396–8.
Diamond AB, Meng CH, Goldin RR. Arteriography of unusual mass lesions of the mesentery. Radiology 1974;110:547–52.
Soergel KH, Hensley GT. Fatal mesenteric panniculitis. Gastroenterology 1966;51:529–36.
Andersen JA, Rasmussen NR, Pedersen JK. Mesenteric panniculitis: a fatal case. Am J Gastroenterol 1982;77:523–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Adachi, Y., Mori, M., Enjoji, M. et al. Mesenteric panniculitis of the colon. Dis Colon Rectum 30, 962–966 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02554286
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02554286