Arteriography of unusual mass lesions of the mesentery.

Abstract

The angiographic features of 10 unusual mass lesions of the mesentery are reviewed; these include mesenteric panniculitis, giant lipoma, lymphoma, traumatic cyst, foreign-body cyst, and huge varix. Only the varix showed abnormal vascularity. Separation and distortion of the mesenteric vessels usually indicate an intrinsic solid mass, whereas displacement alone indicates a cystic mass. Arterial encasement was seen in 3 patients with a malignant mass (lymphoma) but was also seen in a patient with a benign solid mass (lipoma), apparently due to inflammatory changes. Angiography in two projections can help differentiate an intramesenteric mass from one adjacent to the mesentery.