Mesenteric lipodystrophy – An unusual intraabdominal mass

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2012.11.024
• Publication Date: 2012-12-08T09:45:55Z
• Authors: R.L. McDermott; B. Hutchinson; C. Ryan; J.B. Conneely; A. Latif; D. Maguire; K. Sheahan
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Lipodystrophy; Facial; Mesenteric; Abdominal; Mass; 3. Good health

We report the case of a 21 year old female with underlying facial lipodystrophy who presented with left lower abdominal pain, weight gain and altered bowel habit.Subsequent investigation showed a large (21cm×18cm×8cm) intraabdominal mass. At laparotomy, it was completely excised and was seen to arise from the transverse mesocolon and following histology revealed it to be mesenteric lipodystrophy.Mesenteric lipodystrophy is a rare clinical entity, and part of a spectrum of disorders of sclerosing mesenteritis. This is the first reported case in a patient with pre-existing facial lipodystrophy.Herein we describe a case of mesenteric lipodystrophy, discuss its management and review of the literature.