[Etiologic spectrum of mesenteric panniculitis: report of 7 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare disorder characterized by nonspecific inflammation and/or necrosis and/or fibrosis in the adipose tissue of the bowel mesentery. Its signification, primary or associated with other diseases, is a subject of controversy.


METHODS
A descriptive and retrospective study of patients with an abdominal CT examination showing features of mesenteric panniculitis and for whom biopsy with immunohistochemical examination was obtained in all cases.


RESULTS
Seven patients were enrolled (4 men and 3 women) with a median age of 62,1 years. None of the patients without an identified etiology had a history of abdominal surgery. An associated disease was identified in 4 cases: breast cancer (1), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based on peripheric lymph nodes biopsy (2) and cryoglobulinemic vascularitis based on renal biopsy (1). In the 3 remaining cases, isolated mesenteric panniculitis was the only abnormality despite thorough imaging and pathologic investigations.


CONCLUSIONS
Except an obvious malignancy context or a history of abdominal surgery, a pathologic examination of the mesenteric panniculitis lesions is necessary, especially to eliminate another mesenteric disorder. Mesenteric panniculitis is often associated with lymphoma.
Béchade
D
D
Service de clinique médicale, hôpital du Val-de-Grâce, 74, boulevard de Port-Royal, 75230 Paris cedex 05, France. bechade.dominique@wanadoo.fr
Durand
X
X
Desramé
J
J
Rambelo
A
A
Corberand
D
D
Baranger
B
B
Farge
D
D
Algayres
J-P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000150:complications; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications