Mesenteric panniculitis clinical presentations, management, and outcomes: a single institute experience of 89 patients

Abstract

Aims: Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare, non-specific, chronic inflammatory disease with a reported incidence of 0.16-3.3% that primarily involves the mesenteric adipose tissue. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinical features of patients diagnosed with mesenteric panniculitis. 
 Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the reports of 941 patients who were examined in the Gastroenterology Clinic of Lokman Hekim Hospital and underwent abdominal computerized tomography (CT) between January 2019 and December 2021. 
 Results: Among CT scan reports of 941 patients, the diagnosis of mesenteric panniculitis was present in 89 (9.45%) patients (55 male and 34 female). The reasons for obtaining a CT scan in those patients were as follows: severe abdominal pain in 53 (59.6%) patients, weight loss in 16 (17.9%) patients, bloating, distention, and suspicion of sub-ileus in 12 (13.5%) patients, and alterations in abdominal movements (constipation or diarrhea) in 8 (8.9%) patients. Among patients with mesenteric panniculitis, autoimmune diseases were also analyzed 21 were having Hashimoto thyroiditis, 2 were having vitiligo, 2 were having Sjögren’s disease, 1 was having primary biliary cholangiopathy, and 1 was having a diagnosis of celiac disease. 
 Conclusion: Mesenteric panniculitis is not a very rare disease, diagnosed with mainly CT findings. Although the disease may be associated with some autoimmune diseases and malignancies, the disease outcomes are generally fine. However, there are still many unknown points, especially about the etiology and outcomes of the disease.