[Peritoneal amyloidosis in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. X-ray computed tomographic aspects]

A 74 years old man, know to have Waldenström's macroglobulinemia was hospitalized for intestinal obstruction. Upper gastrointestinal barium study revealed an extrinsic stenosis of duodenum. Ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography revealed a diffuse mesenteric infiltration with medium level echoes and encasing of mesenteric vessels. Histologic examination of biopsies taken at exploratory laparotomy disclosed amyloidosis of the epiploon and mesentery. The review of amyloidosis in macroglobulinemia shows peritoneal amyloidosis to be a very rare event. Sonographic, computed tomographic and pathologic findings of this unusual case are discussed.