Mesenteric panniculitis: report of two cases.

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare inflammatory process of the mesenteric fat with unknown etiology. We report two pathologically proven cases of mesenteric panniculitis. Both patients presented with abdominal pain and palpable masses. In one patient, computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a well-defined heterogenous mass containing fat density at the mesocolon. In the other patient, CT showed a fatty mass encompassing mesenteric vessels at the root of the mesentery. Although the definite diagnosis of mesenteric panniculitis depends on histopathology, recognition of CT features is helpful in the diagnosis and avoids unnecessary extensive operation.