Mesenteritis
Mesenteritis is a term for inflammation of the mesentery, the tissue that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall. It most often refers to mesenteric panniculitis, at one end of a spectrum that includes retractile mesenteritis and lipodystrophy (sclerosing mesenteritis).
Etiology is unknown; many cases are idiopathic, but associations with autoimmune processes exist. Some reports link
Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic to abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, weight loss, or fever. Inflammation or
Diagnosis relies on imaging. CT commonly shows increased mesenteric fat attenuation (misty mesentery), small soft tissue
Treatment depends on severity. Many cases are observed if asymptomatic. Symptomatic disease is often treated with
Prognosis is variable. The disease can wax and wane; many patients have stable symptoms, and long-term outcomes