The Long-Term (3.5-Year) Observation of Asymptomatic Sclerosing Mesenteritis: A Case Report

A 57-year-old male with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia was found to have elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels during a routine health checkup, leading to an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan. The scan identified a mesenteric mass with an irregular morphology. Subsequent blood tests indicated no signs of inflammation, and follow-up CEA levels normalized. Further imaging with abdominal contrast-enhanced CT and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT revealed a calcified mass in the mesentery, raising concerns for malignancy. However, an exploratory laparotomy and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis (SM). During a 3.5-year period, the patient remained asymptomatic, with serial imaging showing no significant changes in the mass, even without treatment. This case underscores the potential benign course of SM, suggesting that conservative management may be appropriate in select asymptomatic cases.