Mesenteric angina successfully treated by percutaneous angioplasty

A female patient of 47 years was sent to our radiology department for abdominal CT. She had severe epigastric pain very marked to left hypochondrium in postprandial period for a month. The pain was increasingly progressive with critical attacks at night. That forced her into fear and food restriction with an estimated weight loss of 4kg. Drug treatments did not improve symptoms. Abdominal CT highlighted thrombosis of superior mesenteric artery of 90%. Other arterial trunks and intestines were normal. Percutaneous angiography confirmed mesenteric thrombosis. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed with success. Antiplatelets were prescribed. A good clinical evolution was observed within one year.