A Bowel Mesenteric Lipoma Causing Recurrent Abdominal Pain: A Case Report

Abstract

A 69-year-old man visited the Emergency Department at Onomichi General Hospital with upper abdominal and low back pain. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography revealed a low-density tumor suggestive of a lipoma in the right lower abdomen. We could not identify any findings other than the tumor that could explain the patient’s pain. There was no evidence of a hiatal hernia and/or gastritis on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Abdominal pain recurred with resumption of food/meal intake; however, his pain improved with medication. We performed a semi-emergency open operation. No ascites was observed in the abdominal cavity. The tumor was located in the small bowel mesentery without any invasion of other organs. We performed mesenteric tumor excision, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 5 without any complications. No abdominal pain was observed postoperatively. A mesenteric lipoma may cause bowel obstruction; therefore, early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are important. Notably, recurrence has been reported in a few cases despite complete tumor excision. Thus, careful follow-up is important.