Thoracic mesothelioma associated with abdominal mesenteric panniculitis.

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is characterized by an abdominal inflammatory reaction and mesenteric fat necrosis. Clinically, MP manifests as recurrent abdominal pain, pyrexia, and space-occupying peritoneal masses. We report a patient with MP, severe enough to require immunosuppressant treatment, who developed a recurrent pleural effusion. Malignant mesothelioma was identified in the pleural space 3 yr after initial pleural investigation. This case is the second report of pleural effusion associated with MP. It is the first report in which thoracic mesothelioma and MP occurred together. MP has been associated with other malignancies.