title: Anaplastic lymphoma masquerading as sclerosing mesenteritis: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare fibroinflammatory disease of unknown pathogenesis and etiology. Although more commonly benign in its clinical course, sclerosing mesenteritis can mimic certain malignant disorders, such as lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report describes the case of a previously healthy young woman who develops an acute illness thought to be related to sclerosing mesenteritis following an extensive diagnostic work-up including biopsy sampling, which was negative for malignancy. However, despite aggressive medical care, the patient passed away. Autopsy revealed extensive inflammation secondary to anaplastic lymphoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The case very graphically highlights an important clinical observation that lymphoma can masquerade as sclerosing mesenteritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5682, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Faje
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Hawary
authors.forename: John Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000473:pathology*