Polyarteritis nodosa. An unusual cause of acute abdomen.
Two cases of acute abdomen operated on twice and biopsy specimens confirmed are presented. The diagnosis of a systemic necrotizing vasculitis group of polyarteritis nodosa was established. The syndrome affects predominantly males between the second and forth decade of life. The gastrointestinal tract is involved in approximately 50% of the cases. While a negative laparotomy may be considered as a surgical pit-fall, nevertheless, it is the only way of establishing the diagnosis and treating the complications of the disease in some of the cases.
Papalambros
E
E
1st Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Greece.
Felekuras
E
E
Bastounis
E
E
Panayotopoulos
J
J
Balas
P
P
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery