[Mesenteric panniculitis. Apropos a case and a review of the literature].

The case of a 35 year old female who had paraneoplasic syndrome during a period of one year, together with abdominal pain, is presented. Owing to the aforementioned, she was operated under the suspicion of lymphoma. The intraoperatory diagnosis was of retroperitoneal fibrosis. Physical examination showed important ascites and cachexia. Mild anemia and high sedimentation rate were found in blood test. A barium intestinal X-ray showed loop distention and a CT scan showed ascites and mesenteric thickening which were confirmed by a laparotomy. The histological study showed substantial cholagen and inflammatory infiltrate, together with giant cells of foreign body type. The different clinical presentations were reviewed as well as diagnoses, treatments, and the evolution of the disease.