# Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: A Rare Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Abdominal Pain

## TL;DR

This paper discusses a rare condition called Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) that causes chronic abdominal pain and weight loss, and highlights the effectiveness of surgical treatment.

## Contribution

The paper presents a case study demonstrating that surgical decompression can effectively treat MALS, a rare but important differential diagnosis for chronic abdominal pain.

## Key findings

- A 22-year-old female patient experienced complete symptom resolution after laparoscopic decompression of the median arcuate ligament.
- CT angiography confirmed celiac artery compression as the cause of the patient's chronic postprandial pain and weight loss.
- Early surgical intervention was associated with a favorable outcome and improved quality of life in this MALS case.

## Abstract

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare condition caused by the compression of the celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament. It commonly affects young, thin women and presents with chronic abdominal pain, especially postprandial, and weight loss.

We report the case of a 22-year-old female patient with persistent postprandial abdominal pain and significant weight loss. CT angiography revealed compression of the proximal celiac artery. Laparoscopic decompression of the median arcuate ligament was performed with complete symptom resolution and a favorable postoperative outcome.

This case emphasizes the importance of including MALS in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain in young patients. Early surgical intervention can result in significant symptom improvement and enhanced quality of life.