# Sclerosing mesenteritis: a case series detailing importance of early diagnosis

## TL;DR

This case series highlights the importance of early diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis to avoid severe complications.

## Contribution

The study presents two cases emphasizing the need for accurate diagnosis to prevent mismanagement.

## Key findings

- Two patients with sclerosing mesenteritis were misdiagnosed initially, leading to inappropriate treatment.
- One patient developed severe complications and died after delayed diagnosis and treatment.
- Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent catastrophic outcomes in sclerosing mesenteritis.

## Abstract

Two patient cases are presented in this case series. Both patients presented with vague abdominal pain, and CT imaging showed calcified mesenteric masses. Definitive diagnoses of sclerosing mesenteritis was made on histological evaluation. Interestingly, one of these patients was initially misdiagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor after Octreotide scan showed increased mesenteric uptake. He underwent treatment for neuroendocrine tumor however had disease progression to small bowel obstruction, requiring emergent exploratory laparotomy with palliative resection of the mesenteric mass and involved small bowel. He experienced cardiac arrest in the immediate post-operative period and unfortunately did not survive. This case series exemplifies the importance of early diagnosis and management to prevent catastrophic complications in an otherwise benign disease.