[Retractile mesenteritis]

We report the case of a 76-year-old patient with cachexia, abdominal pain and anemia who was referred for computed tomography to exclude the possibility of a malignoma. We diagnosed retractile mesenteritis, which was verified by laparoscopy with exploratory excision and histological examination. Exploratory laparatomy, recommended even today, could be prevented. In this procedure, extensive parts of the mesenterium and intestine are often resected because of the possibility of a tumor. After therapy with prednisone, there was clinical recovery and the symptoms regressed, as shown by computed tomography.