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Updated: May 26, 2026
05:07
Multimodality Diagnosis of Mesenteric Ischemia
Published on: July 21, 2023
Mesenteric panniculitis. Part 2: prevalence and natural course: MDCT prospective study
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Clinique St Luc, Bouge, Belgium. bcoulier@skynet.be
Summary
Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is more prevalent than previously thought, with most cases being benign and asymptomatic. Advanced CT imaging has improved detection rates for this rare inflammatory condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a rare, benign inflammatory condition affecting mesenteric adipose tissue.
- It presents with two main pathological subgroups: MP (inflammation/fat necrosis) and Retractile Mesenteritis (fibrosis/retraction).
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-estimate the prevalence of MP in the general population using a large prospective study.
- To compare findings with existing literature and evaluate the natural course of MP.
- To assess the association between MP and neoplastic conditions.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study of 613 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal MDCT for various conditions.
- Diagnosis of MP based on at least three of five typical CT signs, including mass effect, fat attenuation, nodes, halo sign, and pseudocapsule.
- Refined diagnosis by requiring the halo sign and pseudocapsule as essential criteria.
Main Results:
- Initial diagnosis identified MP in 7.83% of patients (48/613).
- A stricter diagnostic criteria (including halo sign and pseudocapsule) identified MP in 3.42% of patients (21/613).
- MP prevalence did not significantly differ between neoplastic and non-neoplastic patient groups, except for a slight increase in those with bladder/prostate neoplasms or lymphoma.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of MP is higher than previously reported, likely due to advancements in CT imaging technology.
- MP is generally idiopathic, benign, and asymptomatic, with limited predictive value for associated neoplasms.
- PET/CT is useful for excluding mesenteric tumoral involvement, and CT findings of MP show stability in about 85% of cases over time.
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