Protein-losing enteropathy: first manifestation of sclerosing mesenteritis.

OBJECTIVE

To report the case of an unusual form of protein-losing enteropathy.

PATIENT: A 54-year-old patient with hypoechoic tumours resembling lipomas in the mesentery.

INTERVENTIONS: Following examination by ultrasound and computed tomography, the well-known intestinal and extra-intestinal forms of protein-losing enteropathy were excluded and a diagnostic laparotomy was performed. The whole mesentery was infiltrated by a large unresectable tumour. Histological examination showed that it was a sclerosing mesenteritis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Steroid therapy dramatically improved the protein-losing enteropathy.

CONCLUSION

Pathogenically, the enteropathy may be interpreted as the result of disturbed lymphatic drainage caused by the sclerosed mesentery.