A 39-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of an abdominal mass, pain, and fever. Abdominal examination revealed a firm mass, 8cm in diameter, above the umbilicus. White blood cell count, cAMP receptor protein, and lactate dehydrogenase increased. A abdominal ultrasonography and cT scan showed an irregular tumor involving no other organs. By angiography, the mesenteric vessels were compressed by the tumor and the left side of the mesenterium well stained. After admission, fever subsided on the 3rd day and the size of the tumor became nearly half on the 15th day. At laparotomy, the tumor was located at the center of the mesenterium, measuring 5×4×4cm. Mesenterium of the small intestine adjacent to the tumor was thick, and many small nodules were identified in it. The main tumor was resected. Histology confirmed malignant lymphoma (diffuse large cell type).
A rare case of malignant lymphoma of the mesenterium which showed a spontaneous reduction in size is reported, with a review of 50 cases, including the present case, of malignant lymphoma of the mesenterium in the Japanese literature.