2003 Volume 23 Issue 6 Pages 957-960
A 23-year-old male was admitted to Osaka Police Hospital with the symptom of acute abdominal pain. He was suspected to have ileus, from plain abdominal X-ray findings. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography revealed an 8cm×4cm tumor-like lesion with intestinal loops in the pelvic cavity. A barium enema revealed a severe stenosis of the sigmoid colon in the same portion. These findings suggested strongly mesenteric panniculitis of the sigmoid colon. The patient underwent a series of conservative treatments including bowel rest and the administration of antibiotics. Follow-up CT at about one month after admission showed that the lesion had disappeared completely. Mesenteric panniculitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in young patients. As such patients can recover in a short period with conservative therapy, surgery should not be indicated promptly.
