An Uncommon Cause of Abdominal Pain in the Elderly: A Case Report of Mesenteric Panniculitis

Mesenteric panniculitis is an uncommon idiopathic inflammatory condition affecting the adipose tissue of the mesentery, characterized by nonspecific manifestations, which present challenges in its diagnosis. We herein document the case of a 75-year-old female patient whose manifestations include diffuse abdominal pain over a period of four days. The diffuse abdominal pain was accompanied by nausea and decreased food intake on presentation. The patient was not experiencing fever, vomiting, or bowel/bladder symptoms. The abdomen was soft with periumbilical and epigastric tenderness, while bowel sounds were normal. There were no signs of organomegaly. Routine investigations were mostly within normal limits, with slight signs of inflammation. Ultrasonography findings were inconclusive. In the case of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen, the findings showed increased attenuation and signs of inflammation in the mesenteric fat, indicating mesenteric panniculitis, and no signs of obstruction or mass lesions. The patient was conservatively treated with analgesics, proton pump inhibitors, and antibiotics. The condition of the patient improved significantly. The patient recovered, and her condition was stable. She was advised to return for a follow-up. Early radiological detection is important for the avoidance of surgical intervention, thereby producing a positive outcome..