title: Sclerosing mesenteritis presenting as protein-losing enteropathy: a fatal case.
abstract: Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare, benign disorder characterized by non-specific and chronic inflammation of the mesenteric adipose tissue. The disease usually presents with gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal masses. The long-term prognosis is favorable, but it often becomes severe. In the present report we describe a 77-year-old man who presented with diarrhea, massive ascites and an abdominal mass. The rapid deterioration of the general condition of the patient limited invasive examinations and left the primary disease unclear. Despite symptomatic therapy, malnutrition and hypovolemia were prolonged, and he died. The definitive diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis and the cause of the fatal outcome were disclosed at autopsy. This case indicates that sclerosing mesenteritis is a potentially-fatal disease and the need for aggressive treatment should be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Medicine, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Japan. takashi.kida615@gmail.com
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kida
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tatsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Isozaki
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oyamada
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology