Arque Median Ligament Syndrome: A Cause of Abdominal Pain

Abstract

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a condition in which the median arcuate ligament presses too firmly against the celiac trunk and the nerves in the region. This anatomical variant affects 10 - 24% of the general population. It occurs most often in slender, younger women and the clinical manifestation is dominated by abdominal pain, vomiting and weight loss. It is treated surgically by dividing the medial arcuate ligament to release the celiac trunk. The usual approach is described as supraumbilical median laparotomy. We report the case of a 36-year-old female patient admitted with abdominal pain and weight loss.