Retractile mesenteritis: to treat or not to treat

Retractile mesenteritis is a rare entity characterized by an inflammatory process of the mesenteric adipose tissue. The disease usually presents with abdominal pain or a palpable abdominal mass. In the majority of cases, the disease is self-limiting and the prognosis is favorable. In this paper we describe a patient who presented with a 7 x 8 cm mass in the left upper abdomen, nausea and pain in the lower back. Symptomatic treatment was given with good result. The literature on different therapeutic intervention is briefly discussed.