Mesenteric panniculitis associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare, complex disorder characterized by a chronic, idiopathic fibro-inflammatory process of mesenteric adipose tissue. Due to its protean clinical presentation, mesenteric panniculitis poses a significant diagnostic challenge to the clinician, radiologist and pathologist alike. We present an extremely rare case of mesenteric panniculitis with disease progression associated with retroperitoneal fibrosis. This report identifies the need for increased awareness of this rare condition and for mesenteric panniculitis to be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with recurrent episodes of unexplained abdominal pain. Our case also highlights the importance of computed tomography imaging in the diagnosis, and the follow-up of patients with mesenteric panniculitis as disease progression may occur in the absence of symptoms.