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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Murine Mesenteric Lymphadenectomy for Selective Disruption of Lymphatic Communication with Region-Specific Gut
Published on: December 30, 2025
[Mesenteric lymphadenopathy - a valid health problem in children]
Grazyna Sikorska-Wiśniewska1, Anna Liberek, Magdalena Góra-Gebka
1Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Onkologii Dzieciecej, Akademia Medyczna, ul. Nowe Ogrody 1-6, 80-803 Gdansk, Poland.
Mesenteric lymphadenopathy in children often causes abdominal pain, with acute diarrhea and respiratory infections being common triggers. Ultrasonography typically reveals enlarged lymph nodes, guiding further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Medical Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mesenteric lymphadenopathy (ML) is a condition characterized by enlarged lymph nodes in the mesentery.
- It can present with various clinical symptoms, necessitating a thorough diagnostic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying causes and clinical manifestations of mesenteric lymphadenopathy in hospitalized children.
- To correlate clinical symptoms with ultrasonographic findings and etiological factors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 127 hospitalized children (8 months to 18 years) with ultrasonographically confirmed enlarged abdominal lymph nodes were studied.
- Clinical symptoms, inflammatory markers, and etiological investigations (cultures, viral/parasitic tests, endoscopy) were analyzed.
- Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was defined by the presence of at least three lymph nodes with a peroneal diameter of ≥5 mm.
Main Results:
- Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom (49.6%), often accompanied by vomiting and fever.
- Ultrasonography commonly showed numerous enlarged lymph nodes (51.2%), with a long axis ≥10 mm in 66.9% of cases.
- Acute diarrhea (15.7%) and respiratory tract infections (14.9%) were the leading causes, followed by primary mesenteric lymphadenopathy (21.3%) and lambliasis (7.0%).
Conclusions:
- Mesenteric lymphadenopathy in children frequently presents with abdominal pain, indicating the need for laboratory and imaging studies.
- Ultrasonography is crucial for assessing lymph node size and morphology.
- Infections, particularly acute diarrhea and respiratory infections, are the primary drivers of ML in pediatric populations.
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