title: Mesenteric lipodystrophy - An unusual intraabdominal mass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We report the case of a 21 year old female with underlying facial lipodystrophy who presented with left lower abdominal pain, weight gain and altered bowel habit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subsequent investigation showed a large (21cm×18cm×8cm) intraabdominal mass. At laparotomy, it was completely excised and was seen to arise from the transverse mesocolon and following histology revealed it to be mesenteric lipodystrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mesenteric lipodystrophy is a rare clinical entity, and part of a spectrum of disorders of sclerosing mesenteritis. This is the first reported case in a patient with pre-existing facial lipodystrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Herein we describe a case of mesenteric lipodystrophy, discuss its management and review of the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Hepatopbiliary Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: Ronan.McDermott@slh.ie.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Conneely
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheahan