Acute pancreatitis masquerading as mesentric growth in COVID-19 patient: A case report

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It commonly affects the respiratory system, producing pneumonia-like symptoms. Among extrapulmonary manifestations, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is common with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Coronavirus acts by targeting the ACE-2 receptors in the alveoli of the lungs, but because these receptors are also present in other organs, such as the pancreas, it can affect the pancreas as well, thus causing acute pancreatitis. We here discuss a case of a 72-year-old hypertensive male with COVID-19 who presented with atypical presentation of acute abdominal pain and a few episodes of vomiting. Laboratory investigations were inconclusive. Imaging findings were suggestive of small bowel obstruction and perforation; thus, an exploratory laparotomy was done in which a mesenteric growth was found, reported as acute pancreatitis on histopathology. Therefore, attention should be paid to the pancreatic involvement and atypical presentations in COVID-19 patients.