[Motility disorder and weight loss in a 71-year-old male patient]

A 71-year-old man presented to this clinic for evaluation of an unclear abdominal tumor. He complained of abdominal pain, weight loss and motility disorders, which began some weeks previously. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scans showed a large mesenterial space-occupying lesion with accompanying lymphadenopathy, slight accumulation of ascites and venous congestion. For confirmation of the suspected diagnosis of a sclerosing mesenteritis and exclusion of a lymphoma a laparoscopy was carried out with excision of tissue. The material was not adequately representative so that a laparotomy was carried out for removal of a new tissue specimen. The tissue specimen confirmed the rare diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis and due to the complaints a pharmaceutical treatment with prednisone and tamoxifen was initiated.