[Sclerosing mesenteritis: case reports and review of literature (author's transl)]

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare, non-systemic disease confined to the mesenteric adipose tissue and typified by a variety of inflammatory pseudo-tumours. Histological investigation uncovers a wide spectrum of pathological changes, with collections of foam cells, fibrosis and for the most part sparse mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates in the mesenteric fat tissue. In the course of several weeks to months the pseudotumours generally resolve without therapeutic measures. The disease entity is discussed on the basis of three clinical cases.