Mesenteric panniculitis

Mesenteric panniculitis is an inflammatory condition of mesenteric fat which may result in peritoneal space occupying lesions. Only two previously reported cases in the English literature have been evaluated by computed tomography (CT). We present 2 additional cases and emphasize that CT patterns are not specific, but suggest the diagnosis in the presence of a well-defined fibrous wall circumscribing a fatty mass containing regions with attenuation near that of water. Lymphoma and mesenteric metastases should be considered the most frequent radiologic, clinical and surgical differential diagnosis. (orig.)