Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,234 studies31 sourcesUpdated 52 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Case Reports in Surgery

When Fibrosis Mimics Cancer: A Rare Case of Idiopathic Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting as Locally Advanced Colonic Neoplasia

  • Adelaide Andriani1
  • Daniele Lomiento2
  • Enrica Avezzù Pignatelli di Montecalvo2
  • Amin Titi2
  1. 1Department of General Surgery E. Morelli Hospital ASST Valtellina e Alto Lario Sondalo Italy asst-val.it
  2. 2Department of General Surgery Istituto Clinico Sant’Anna Gruppo San Donato Brescia Italy santanna-gsd.it
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a rare benign fibroinflammatory disorder of mesenteric adipose tissue characterized by variable degrees of fat necrosis, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis. Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) represents a predominantly fibrotic manifestation within this disease spectrum and may produce a mass‐like, infiltrative appearance that closely mimics malignant intra‐abdominal disease, making preoperative diagnosis particularly challenging. We report the case of a 56‐year‐old man who presented with progressive abdominal pain and signs of subacute intestinal obstruction. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a stenosing lesion involving the transverse colon with extension to the mesentery and anterior abdominal wall, raising strong suspicion for locally advanced colonic malignancy. The patient subsequently underwent exploratory laparotomy with segmental resection of the transverse colon and en bloc excision of the involved abdominal wall tissue. Histopathological examination unexpectedly demonstrated idiopathic SM with marked fibroinflammatory changes and no evidence of malignancy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient showed progressive clinical improvement during follow‐up. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty of SM and its ability to clinically and radiologically simulate invasive neoplastic disease. Awareness of this rare entity is essential to guide appropriate management and avoid misdiagnosis.

Related

  1. Familial lichen amyloidosis as a presenting sign of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A tumor syndrome.
    Caroline Readinger, Allison Readinger
    JAAD case reportsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textEpidemiology & public healthEurope PMC
  2. NQO1 acts as a context-dependent regulator of oxidative stress and biliary fibrosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis
    Juhyun Kim, Seung Hee Woo, Da-Hyeun Yoon +3
    Hepatology communicationsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCEurope PMC
  3. Reply: Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Nintedanib and Pirfenidone in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Five-Year Real-Life Study
    Ayça Yanalak, Onur Yazıcı
    Thoracic Research and PracticePeer-reviewedCC BY-NCFull textGeneral medicineDOAJ
  4. Obesity and the risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a nationwide population-based study.
    Minjee Kim, Kyu Na Lee, Dong Wook Shin +2
    BMJ open respiratory researchPeer-reviewedCC BY-NCFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  5. Metabolomic Profiles Predict the Risk of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
    Yujia Xie, Shiyu Yang, Xiaojie You +7
    PhenomicsPeer-reviewedLicence not statedFull textGeneral medicinePMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{andriani2026when,
  title = {{When Fibrosis Mimics Cancer: A Rare Case of Idiopathic Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting as Locally Advanced Colonic Neoplasia}},
  author = {Adelaide Andriani and Daniele Lomiento and Enrica Avezzù Pignatelli di Montecalvo and Amin Titi},
  journal = {Case Reports in Surgery},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1155/cris/5052821},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/cris/5052821},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - When Fibrosis Mimics Cancer: A Rare Case of Idiopathic Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting as Locally Advanced Colonic Neoplasia
AU  - Adelaide Andriani
AU  - Daniele Lomiento
AU  - Enrica Avezzù Pignatelli di Montecalvo
AU  - Amin Titi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Case Reports in Surgery
DO  - 10.1155/cris/5052821
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1155/cris/5052821
AB  - Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a rare benign fibroinflammatory disorder of mesenteric adipose tissue characterized by variable degrees of fat necrosis, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis. Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) represents a predominantly fibrotic manifestation within this disease spectrum and may produce a mass‐like, infiltrative appearance that closely mimics malignant intra‐abdominal disease, making preoperative diagnosis particularly challenging. We report the case of a 56‐year‐old man who presented with progressive abdominal pain and signs of subacute intestinal obstruction. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a stenosing lesion involving the transverse colon with extension to the mesentery and anterior abdominal wall, raising strong suspicion for locally advanced colonic malignancy. The patient subsequently underwent exploratory laparotomy with segmental resection of the transverse colon and en bloc excision of the involved abdominal wall tissue. Histopathological examination unexpectedly demonstrated idiopathic SM with marked fibroinflammatory changes and no evidence of malignancy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient showed progressive clinical improvement during follow‐up. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty of SM and its ability to clinically and radiologically simulate invasive neoplastic disease. Awareness of this rare entity is essential to guide appropriate management and avoid misdiagnosis.
SN  - 2090-6900
SN  - 2090-6919
ER  -