Mesenteritis secondary to the use of a pneumatic jackhammer.
Mesenteritis is an uncommon condition characterized by a variable clinical course, in which spontaneous remission may occur, but in which uncontrollable disease activity leads to death [corrected]. We describe a construction worker with mesenteritis who presented with vague abdominal discomfort and mucoid diarrhoea. A large, irregular mass was found in the abdomen. Upon explorative laparotomy, a large, rubbery, grey and yellow, irresectable tumorous mass was found, which apparently originated from the mesentery of the small bowel. The large bowel was expanded over the tumorous mass. A defunctioning colostomy was made. Histologic examination of biopsy specimens revealed only fatty necrosis of the mesentery and no evidence of malignancy. It is assumed that a pseudotumour of the mesentery had developed after chronic repetitive abdominal trauma caused by the continuous vibration of a pneumatic jackhammer, on which the patient pressed his abdomen during construction work. In this case of mesenteritis, the clinical course was one of spontaneous and complete recovery.
van der Hulst
R W
RW
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Rauws
E A
EA
Tytgat
G N
GN
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D017091:Colitis, Ischemic / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*