title: Mesenteric panniculitis: still an ambiguous condition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the possible relationship between mesenteric panniculitis (MP) visible on computed tomography (CT) and the presence of an underlying neoplastic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 158 patients with CT examinations that revealed the presence of MP was performed. CT images were analyzed by two different radiologists using morphological criteria validated in the radiological literature. The presence, frequency and type of neoplastic lesions associated with MP were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MP was asymptomatic in 96/158 patients (61%). Fat halo sign and pseudocapsule were visible on CT in 89/158 (56%) and 93/158 (59%) patients, respectively. Underlying neoplastic disease was present in 88/158 patients (56%). The neoplastic diseases most often associated with MP were lymphoma (28%), melanoma (18%), colorectal cancer (15%) and prostate cancer (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MP has typical CT appearance and is associated with underlying neoplastic disease in 56% of patients. Such levels of association might suggest that MP may be considered as a paraneoplastic condition. Hence, incidental depiction of MP on CT in a patient without known neoplastic disease should incite radiologists to further scrutinize CT examination for presence of synchronous neoplastic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie viscérale, CHRU Besançon, hôpital Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Badet
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie viscérale, CHRU Besançon, hôpital Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sailley
authors.affiliation: Service de gastroentérologie, CHRU Besançon, hôpital Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briquez
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie digestive, CHRU Besançon, hôpital Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paquette
authors.affiliation: Service de gastroentérologie, CHRU Besançon, hôpital Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vuitton
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie viscérale, CHRU Besançon, hôpital Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France. Electronic address: edelabrousse@chu-besancon.fr.
authors.forename: É
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Delabrousse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; Mesenteric panniculitis; Mesentery; Neoplasia; Paraneoplastic