Nodular mesenteritis: report of a case simulating carcinoma of the sigmoid colon and analysis of its histologic profile

Weber-Christian disease with ileocolonic involvement successfully treated with infliximab

Weber-Christian disease (WCD) is an inflammatory disease whose main histological feature is lobular panniculitis of adipose tissue. The location of panniculitis determines the clinical presentation, being the subcutaneous adipose tissue the most frequent one, followed by liver, spleen, bone marrow and mesenteric adipose tissue. Systemic corticosteroids are first line treatment, but other options should be considered if systemic symptoms are observed or in case of refractory clinical situation. We report herein a case with WCD showing orbital, mesenteric and ileocolonic involvement, which required surgical treatment and also developed postoperative recurrence. Symptoms were resolved by administration of thalidomide and, afterwards, infliximab. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Weber-Christian disease with luminal ileocolonic involvement, treated with infliximab.

CT evaluation of mesenteric panniculitis: prevalence and associated diseases

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of mesenteric panniculitis on CT and to describe its appearance and associated diseases.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 7620 consecutive abdominal CT examinations were prospectively evaluated for features common to mesenteric panniculitis such as a well-delineated inhomogeneous hyperattenuated fatty mass at the mesenteric root, envelopment of mesenteric vessels, and no evidence of invasion of the adjacent small-bowel loops that may be displaced.

RESULTS

CT findings of mesenteric panniculitis were seen in 49 patients (0.6%). We found a female predominance. Mesenteric panniculitis coexisted with malignancy in 34 patients and with benign disorders in 11 patients. In the remaining four patients, mesenteric panniculitis, verified on histology, was considered to be responsible for the patients' clinical manifestations; no other abnormality was identified. Soft-tissue nodules (n = 39) and a fatty halo surrounding vessels and nodules (n = 42) were observed in most patients. Follow-up abdominal CT examinations in 29 of the 49 patients showed changes in only one patient.

CONCLUSION

CT findings of mesenteric panniculitis may be seen in patients undergoing abdominal CT for various symptoms.

Retractile mesenteritis of the large bowel: report of a case and review of the literature

We report herein the case of a 46-year-old woman found to have retractile mesenteritis of the rectosigmoid colon. A review of 52 cases of retractile mesenteritis of the large bowel collected from the literature is discussed following our case report. The average age of the patients was 54.5 years and the male: female ratio was 37:15. The majority of lesions (61.5%) were located in the rectosigmoid colon, with abdominal pain, an abdominal mass, constipation, and fever being the most common symptoms. The diagnosis was only able to be made at the time of laparotomy in 90.4% of the patients. The gross appearance at surgery was characterized by a thickened, shortened, and retractile mesentery, forming nodular masses involving the appendices epiploicae of the colon. Microscopically, fibrosis, inflammatory cell infiltrations, degeneration of the fatty tissue or fat necrosis, and aggregations of lipid-laden foamy cells were observed in most patients. The mass involving the colon was resected in 59.6% of the patients, but even external or bypass colostomy demonstrated favorable results.

Primary mesenteritis, mesenteric fibrosis and mesenteric fibromatosis. Report of four cases, pathology, and classification

Primary mesenteritis is a rare disease. Two cases and two additional patients with mesenteric fibrosis/fibromatosis are reported. A classification of primary and secondary mesenteritis is suggested in order to replace the confusing variety of terms used for the same disease process. Differential diagnosis of mesenteric fibrosis versus mesenteric fibromatosis may be difficult, and some criteria for the separation of these two entities are discussed. Among the clinical symptoms, transmission of aortic pulsations to the anterior abdominal wall is a rare but important aid for diagnosis. Associated diseases are malignant lymphoma, colonic adenomatosis (Gardner's syndrome) and retroperitoneal fibrosis. Microscopically, mesenteric lipomatosis and Whipple's disease must be ruled out. Usually, surgical treatment is not necessary. Prednisone and azathioprine may be helpful in severe cases. Fatal outcome of primary mesenteritis is extremely rare.

Fibrosing mesenteritis simulating pelvic carcinomatosis

A case of fibro-inflammatory thickening of the mesosigmoid simulating pelvic carcinomatosis on barium enema and ultrasound examination is presented. Histologic features of this case and cases of retractile mesenteritis and mesenteric panniculitis are discussed.