Volvulus of small intestine: rare complication of mesenteric pseudocyst.

OBJECTIVE

Mesenteric cyst is a rare intra-abdominal lesion. Most patients with mesenteric cysts are asymptomatic. Symptomatic mesenteric cysts are associated with cyst size, cyst location, and complications, including infection, rupture, hemorrhage, and intestinal obstruction. Volvulus is a rare complication of mesenteric cyst.

SUBJECT: We report a 50-year-old woman with colicky epigastric pain for three days. The symptoms exacerbated in the supine position and were relieved in the sitting position. Computed tomography of her abdomen revealed a huge cystic lesion with a whirl sign of mesentery vessels. She had the history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

RESULT: Segmental resection of the small intestine with end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Histology indicated a hemorrhagic pseudocyst. The patient recovered well after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Mesenteric pseudocyst rarely results in volvulus of small intestine. Our case is the eleventh case reported in the English literature. Atypical presentation of epigastric pain while lying down may lead to mis-diagnosis. This case reminds the clinicians this rare complication.