Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  2009 Jun;38(6):352-355.

A Case of Idiopathic Mesenteric Phlebosclerosis

• Hur CJ
• Kim EY
• Oh JS
• Kim BS
• Han JM
• Jung JT
• Kwon JG
• Kim HG

Abstract

Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is a rare disease of chronic mesenteric ischemia characterized by a thickening of the colonic wall with fibrosis and calcification of the affected veins, which causes ischemic colitis. While the pathogenesis of IMP is unknown, characteristic radiographic, colonoscopic and histologic findings are evident. We report a case of IMP presenting with right lower abdominal pain and diarrhea in a 69-year-old woman. A plain abdominal radiograph revealed thread-like calcification in the colon. Colonoscopy showed dark purple-colored edematous mucosa and erosions in the colon. Histologic examination showed calcification in and around the submucosa and vascular wall. A barium enema demonstrated narrowing and thumb-printing from the ascending to the transverse colon. Abdominal CT disclosed a thickened colonic wall with intramural calcification and calcified mesenteric veins in the colon.

Keyword

Phlebosclerosis; Ischemic colitis; Chronic mesenteric ischemia

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Aged
Barium
Colitis, Ischemic
Colon
Colon, Transverse
Colonoscopy
Diarrhea
Enema
Female
Fibrosis
Humans
Ischemia
Mesenteric Veins
Mucous Membrane
Rare Diseases
Vascular Diseases
Veins
Barium
Ischemia
Vascular Diseases