Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) and mesenteric fibromatosis (MF) are fibrotic diseases of uncertain aetiology. Both occur most frequently in the mesentery of the small intestine, the greater omentum and the mesocolons. In its acute form, the first clinical symptoms of MF are complications of the disease. Chronic MF is characterized by vague abdominal symptoms and/or a palpable abdominal mass. Like mesenteric panniculitis, mesenteric fibromatosis can be diagnostically verified by exploratory laparotomy, or diagnostic video-laparoscopy and biopsy. Here, we present two cases, one of MP and the other of MF, with resembling clinical and tomographic aspects, as well as similarities in diagnosis, histopathology and therapy. With our case report, we want to emphasise both similarities and differences between these two pathologies.
Mesenteric panniculitis; mesenteric fibromatosis; surgery
