Mesenteric hematoma suggests rupture of visceral artery aneurysm

A 61-year-old man with nonspecific abdominal pain appeared to have an intramesenteric hematoma by computed tomographic scan. He suffered catastrophic intraperitoneal hemorrhage from a mesenteric branch-artery aneurysm several days later. A mesenteric hematoma, which can be diagnosed noninvasively, suggests a bleeding visceral artery aneurysm, and such findings warrant angiography followed by abdominal exploration if the presence of a visceral artery aneurysm is confirmed.