title: Malignancy and mesenteric panniculitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a chronic inflammatory process of the small bowel mesentery that has been reported in conjunction with malignancy. The objectives of the present study were to identify the frequency and type of cancers that may coexist with MP and whether these can be seen on the initial diagnostic computerised tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective database was kept of patients diagnosed with MP in the Canterbury region of New Zealand between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2014. CT scans were independently reviewed. Clinical records were reviewed and family doctors were contacted for additional information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 302 patients with possible MP identified and 259 in whom it was confirmed on review. Seventy-eight patients had a diagnosis of malignancy, with 54 having a current cancer (59 total cancers), 33 a past cancer and nine both. Of the 59 current cancers the most common primary sites were colorectum (19), lymph nodes (17), kidney (six) and prostate (four). Fifty-four were at sites included on an abdominal CT scan. At all sites [except prostate (0/4)] there were high rates of detection on CT with 44/54 cancers visible including 20/23 gastrointestinal tract, 14/17 lymphomas and 9/9 non-prostate urogenital tract malignancies. Six people were subsequently diagnosed with cancer after the index CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When MP occurs in association with malignancy, the commonest primary sites are large bowel, the lymph nodes and the urogenital tract. In those with MP on imaging, any cancer except prostate can usually be seen on the index CT. Further extensive investigation in asymptomatic patients is therefore likely to be of low yield.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dobbs
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Frizelle
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D015436:Panniculitis, Peritoneal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mesenteric panniculitis; computerised tomography; malignancy