From the Research
Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare inflammatory disorder that affects the mesentery, characterized by inflammation, scarring, and fat necrosis, typically presenting with abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, and occasionally a palpable abdominal mass, as reported in a study published in 2022 1.
Key Characteristics
- The condition typically affects middle-aged to elderly adults, with a median age of 65 years, as noted in a study from 2007 2.
- Symptoms can be non-specific, making diagnosis challenging, and may include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, and occasionally a palpable abdominal mass.
- Diagnosis usually requires imaging studies like CT scans or MRI, often followed by biopsy for confirmation, as highlighted in a case report from 2021 3.
Treatment and Management
- Treatment depends on symptom severity and may include observation for mild cases or medications for more significant disease, with corticosteroids like prednisone and tamoxifen being commonly used, as reported in a study from 2017 4.
- Some patients may also benefit from immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, or methotrexate for refractory cases, as noted in a study from 2017 5.
- Surgery is generally avoided unless complications like bowel obstruction occur, as reported in a case report from 2022 1.
Prognosis and Outcome
- Most patients have a favorable prognosis with appropriate management, though the disease course can be chronic with periods of remission and flare-ups requiring ongoing monitoring, as noted in a study from 2007 2.
- The exact cause remains unknown, though theories include previous abdominal surgery, trauma, autoimmune processes, or ischemic injury, as discussed in a study from 2021 3.