Protein-losing enteropathy: first manifestation of sclerosing mesenteritis.
OBJECTIVE
To report the case of an unusual form of protein-losing enteropathy.


METHODS
A 54-year-old patient with hypoechoic tumours resembling lipomas in the mesentery.


METHODS
Following examination by ultrasound and computed tomography, the well-known intestinal and extra-intestinal forms of protein-losing enteropathy were excluded and a diagnostic laparotomy was performed. The whole mesentery was infiltrated by a large unresectable tumour. Histological examination showed that it was a sclerosing mesenteritis.


METHODS
Steroid therapy dramatically improved the protein-losing enteropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Pathogenically, the enteropathy may be interpreted as the result of disturbed lymphatic drainage caused by the sclerosed mesentery.
Höring
E
E
Department of Internal Medicine, Krankenhaus Bad Cannstatt, Stuttgart, Germany.
Hingerl
T
T
Hens
K
K
von Gaisberg
U
U
Kieninger
G
G
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology*; D012598:Sclerosis
D003094:Collagen