[Mesenteric cyst in the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño, Lima, Peru: a case report]

Mesenteric cysts are rare abdominal tumors. About 60% of these cysts occurs before 5 years of age and can be located anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, but are most often found in the small bowel mesentery. The clinical presentation depends on the location and size of the cyst and many cases are asymptomatic and are diagnosed incidentally. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, abdominal mass, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, fever and peritonitis. Complications include torsion, infarction, volvulus formation, perforation, infection, anemia, intracystic hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction and obstructive uropathy. They are typically treated by simple excision, marsupialization or segmental bowel resection and have excellent long-term prognosis.