J Korean Surg Soc.  2010 Sep;79(3):234-237.

Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by Mesenteric Lipoma in a Child

• Park J

Abstract

We experienced a case of a 4-year-old girl presenting with vomiting, abdominal pain and mobile mass in the periumbilical area. On physical examination, the abdomen was soft and a 10x10 cm sized, painless firm mobile round mass was palpated in the periumbilical area. An abdominopelvic computed tomography scan showed a huge hypodense mass with encapsulation and multiple septation in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, compressing the intestinal loops. At operative exploration, she was found to have a soft, yellowish round mass originating from the ileal mesentery, situated 10 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The mass was completely excised together with the adjoining ileum, and bowel continuity was restored. Histopathologic diagnosis revealed a mesenteric lipoma, composed of mature adipocytes with no evidence of necrosis or malignancy. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Keyword

Mesentery; Lipoma; Child

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Abdominal Pain
Adipocytes
Child
Humans
Ileocecal Valve
Ileum
Lipoma
Mesentery
Necrosis
Physical Examination
Preschool Child
Vomiting

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Plain abdominal radiograph shows small bowel dilatation.

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  Fig. 2 Abdominopelvic computed tomography scan shows a huge hypodense mass with fat density in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen.

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  Fig. 3 A yellowish round mass originating from the ileal mesentery is noted. The mass is stretching the adjoining ileum.

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  Fig. 4 The cut section of the specimen shows an encapsulated fatty mass with multilobuar appearance.

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  Fig. 5 Microscopic examination shows lipoma composed of mature adipocytes with no evidence of malignancy (H&E, ×200).

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