Spontaneous isolated inferior mesenteric artery dissection

This report presents a case of a spontaneous isolated inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) dissection. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report in the literature. A fifty-eight-year-old female who suffered from acute left lower abdominal pain was admitted. CT scan and digital subtraction angiography indicated dilation in the proximal part of the IMA and occlusion in its distal part. Signs of peri-artery exudation also seen in the CT scan. Laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis of IMA dissection and secondary thrombosis in its branches. After thrombectomy and intimal flap resection, the artery was successfully reconstructed with an autogenous vein patch. Isolated IMA dissection should be considered as one of the differentiation for patients with acute abdomen. Dilation, occlusion of the artery, and signs of peri-artery edema were important clues to suspect the IMA dissection. High resolution spiral CT, which may sometimes reveal the signs such as double lumen and intimal flap, helped to establish the diagnosis of such lesion.