Efficacy of Prednisone in Children with Acute Nonspecific Mesenteric Lymphadenitis: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis (ANML) is a common cause of acute abdominal pain in children with no specific treatment. METHODS: A total of 13 patients (6 boys, 7 girls) aged 7.3 (5-13.5) years with severe acute abdominal pain were evaluated using ultrasonography and laboratory tests to establish the diagnosis of ANML. They were treated with prednisone 1 mg/kg (max 40 mg daily) for a maximum of 5 days. The intensity of abdominal pain was evaluated before and after treatment using a numeric rating scale. RESULTS: All patients had pain scores above 6/10 before, and below 4/10 after treatment with prednisone. Intensity of abdominal pain after treatment for 1-5 days decreased significantly (p < 0.001), with no recurrence at follow-up within 3 months. All other pre-existing signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fever, diarrhea, and constipation were found to disappear with no adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the treatment with prednisone in selective patients with ANML can reduce the duration of abdominal pain.

Hypercalcemia as a rare presentation of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma is a rare malignancy, accounting for only 2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, first described in the 1970s and subsequently accepted as a distinct entity in the current World Health Organization classification. Due to the paucity of this disease, there is still no identifiable etiology, no consistent risk factors, and the pathogenesis remains unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: An 83-year-old Caucasian man presented to an emergency department with palpitations and was found to have atrial fibrillation. During his hospitalization, he was found to have asymptomatic hypercalcemia with corrected calcium of 11.7. Ten days later while in rehabilitation, he started complaining of progressive fatigue and altered mental status was noted. He was found to have a calcium level of 15.5 and was admitted to the intensive care unit for management and further workup. He was found at that time to have, parathyroid hormone: < 1; 25 hydroxyvitamin D: 74; 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D: 85.4; angiotensin-converting enzyme: 7; parathyroid hormone-related protein: < 2; and multiple myeloma workup was negative. Computed tomography of his chest and abdomen showed extensive retroperitoneal, pelvic, and mesenteric lymphadenopathy in addition to findings suggestive of peritoneal carcinomatosis. A right axillary lymph node biopsy showed immunohistochemical parameters consistent with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma. After a lengthy discussion with his family, it was decided that no further treatment would be pursued. He had an aggressive course at the hospital during which he developed pleural effusions, ascites, and diffuse petechiae within 2 weeks; these were complications from his malignancy. Considering the poor outcomes of his aggressive disease, he decided to enroll in an out-patient hospice. He died within a few months as a result of cardiorespiratory arrest. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates a rare presentation of an extremely rare disease; that is, hypercalcemia in a patient who was later found to have angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma. Diagnosing angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma might be the most challenging part due to the wide array of clinical presentations, of which hypercalcemia accounts for only 1%. As seen in this case, most patients present in advanced stages of the disease with poor prognosis.

[A rare case of suppurative mesenteric adenitis associated with intussusception in a child: a clinical case]. / Un cas rare d'adénite mésentérique suppurée associée à une invagination intestinale chez un enfant: cas Clinique.

Some cases of suppurative mesenteric adenitis have already been described in the literature but not associated with intussusception. We describe the case of a 3-year-old boy presenting to the department of surgery at the University Hospital of Lubumbashi with bowel obstruction. He was visited elsewhere, in the previous 12 days, for diarrhea, vomiting, fever, coma and treated for cerebral malaria and blackwater fever. Surgery revealed an ileal intussusception and a suppurative mesenteric adenitis whose pyoculture revealed the presence of Enterobacter cloacae, sensitive to norfloxacin. We performed desinvagination, sucked the pus out into a syringe and excized completely the site of suppurative adenitis. The evolution of patient was good. The clinician must know that the association between suppurative mesenteric adenitis and intussusceptions exists. The diagnosis is not easy and there is the risk of developing acute peritonitis due to its fistulation in the abdominal cavity.

Aseptic mesenteric lymph node abscesses. In search of an answer. A new entity?

Mesenteric lymphadenitis constitutes a frequent cause for abdominal pain and may manifest acute abdominal symptoms. Very often, it is difficult to achieve a differential diagnosis as there are many diseases that can generate mesenteric lymphadenopathy. Many times, it is impossible to determine the diagnosis of the disease that has triggered mesenteric lymphadenopathy even after surgical intervention with biopsy. The failure in determining the precise cause of the mesenteric lymphadenoapathy, as well as its unresponsiveness to conservative treatments increases the difficulty in the management of this disease very much. In this paper we have reviewed the diseases that can trigger mesenteric lymphadenitis in detail, with reference to our experience. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most extensive review on this theme in current specific literature. The case reported by us, with a history of mesenteric adenitis, splenic and ganglionic abscesses, vasculitis skin nodules, pseudotumoral ileal stenosis and remission-recurrence pattern over 25 years, has raised extremely difficult problems of differential diagnosis. Its enlistment as a Crohn's disease, vasculitis or aseptic abscess syndrome seems unsatisfactory. The analysis of the data in this case can raise the legitimacy of the question: should we recognize and define a new entity?

Congenital absence of the cecal appendix. Case report.

BACKGROUND: Agenesis of the vermiform appendix is very rare and was first described by Morgagni in 1718. The estimated incidence is 1/100,000 laparotomies performed for suspected appendicitis. This case is reported with the aim of attracting the attention of surgeons who may be in a similar situation during laparotomy. CLINICAL CASE: A 48-year-old male was admitted through the emergency room with the complaint of vague abdominal pain most marked in the epigastrium and mesogastrium which, 4 h after it began, was located in the right iliac fossa and was accompanied by hyporexia, nausea, vomiting and fever. During physical examination, the patient was febrile, tachycardic, and tachypneic, with decreased peristalsis, abdomen painful to palpation and percussion in the right iliac fossa. There were positive appendicular signs. Blood panel showed leukocytosis (14,000), neutrophilia (89.60%) and lymphopenia (5.33%). X-rays of the abdomen showed no abnormalities. We made a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the patient underwent celioscopy where surgical findings were reported as type IV Collins appendiceal agenesis and concomitant mesenteric adenitis. CONCLUSIONS: Several criteria must be determined before the surgeon can conclude that the appendix is congenitally absent. Diagnosis should not be confirmed until the ileo- and retrocecal regions have been explored.

Agenesia del apéndice cecal: informe de un caso / Congenital absence of the cecal appendix: case report

Introducción: La agenesia del apéndice cecal es muy rara y fue descrita por primera vez por Morgagni en 1718. La incidencia estimada es de uno por cada 100 mil laparotomías realizadas por sospecha de apendicitis. Se informa este caso con la finalidad de atraer la atención de los cirujanos que se encuentren en situación similar durante la laparotomía. Caso clínico: Hombre de 48 años de edad admitido en la sala de urgencias por dolor abdominal de tipo vago, más notable en epigastrio y mesogastrio, el cual cuatro horas después de iniciado se localizó en la fosa iliaca derecha, acompañado de hiporexia, náusea, vómito y fiebre. A la exploración física se encontró paciente febril, taquicárdico, taquipneico, con peristaltismo disminuido, abdomen doloroso a la palpación y a la percusión en la fosa iliaca derecha. Signos apendiculares positivos. La biometría hemática indicó leucocitosis de 14 mil, neutrofilia (89.60 %) y linfopenia (5.33 %). Las radiografías simples de abdomen no mostraron anormalidades. Se formuló diagnóstico de probable apendicitis aguda, por lo que se efectuó celioscopia, identificándose agenesia apendicular tipo IV de Collins y adenitis mesentérica concomitante. Conclusiones: Se tienen que conocer varios criterios antes de concluir que el apéndice cecal está ausente de manera congénita. El diagnóstico no debe realizarse hasta que la regiones ileocecal y retrocecal hayan sido exploradas.

BACKGROUND: Agenesis of the vermiform appendix is very rare and was first described by Morgagni in 1718. The estimated incidence is 1/100,000 laparotomies performed for suspected appendicitis. This case is reported with the aim of attracting the attention of surgeons who may be in a similar situation during laparotomy. CLINICAL CASE: A 48-year-old male was admitted through the emergency room with the complaint of vague abdominal pain most marked in the epigastrium and mesogastrium which, 4 h after it began, was located in the right iliac fossa and was accompanied by hyporexia, nausea, vomiting and fever. During physical examination, the patient was febrile, tachycardic, and tachypneic, with decreased peristalsis, abdomen painful to palpation and percussion in the right iliac fossa. There were positive appendicular signs. Blood panel showed leukocytosis (14,000), neutrophilia (89.60%) and lymphopenia (5.33%). X-rays of the abdomen showed no abnormalities. We made a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the patient underwent celioscopy where surgical findings were reported as type IV Collins appendiceal agenesis and concomitant mesenteric adenitis. CONCLUSIONS: Several criteria must be determined before the surgeon can conclude that the appendix is congenitally absent. Diagnosis should not be confirmed until the ileo- and retrocecal regions have been explored.

Mesenteric adenitis caused by Yersinia pseudotubercolosis in a patient subsequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum.

Although the association between inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal infections has been suggested, the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) are still undetermined. We report the case of a man, who presented with mesenteric adenitis initially due to a Yersinia pseudotubercolosis infection, who was later diagnosed with Crohn's disease. This case is in keeping with recent evidence in the literature which suggests that CD is a disease linked to abnormal immune responses to enteric bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals.

[Acute abdominal pain in a 8-year-old girl with Epstein-Barr infection]. / Douleur abdominale aiguë au cours d'une primo-infection par le virus d'Epstein-Barr.

Abdominal pain is uncommon in patient with Epstein-Barr infection and is usually attributed to an enlargement of the liver or spleen. We report on an 8-year-old girl with a pseudoperitonitis due to a mesenteric lymphadenitis associated with Epstein-Barr infection. Outcome was favourable without surgery. We review the different causes of abdominal pain occurring during Epstein-Barr infection.

Cryptococcal mesenteric lymphadenitis: an unusual cause of acute abdomen.

Cryptococcal infection of intraabdominal organs or tissues is extremely rare. Herein we report a child with mesenteric cryptococcal lymphadenitis who presented with an acute abdomen misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis. Definitive diagnosis was established with 2nd look and lymph node biopsy. Clinicians should remember that cryptococcal infection of mesenteric lymph nodes may rarely mimic an acute abdomen and cause delay in diagnosis.

Acute mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymphadenitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: case report.

In a young woman with clinical evidence of acute cutaneous, musculoskeletal, and neurologic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, computed tomography (CT) showed enlarged, centrally hypoattenuating mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. After treatment with steroids, the CT appearance of the lymph nodes returned to normal. The differential diagnosis of lymph nodes with central hypoattenuation includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, metastatic disease (especially squamous cell carcinoma and germ cell tumor), Whipple's disease, and celiac disease in addition to lupus lymphadenitis.

Pseudoappendicitis preceding infectious mononucleosis.

In patients with infectious mononucleosis, abdominal pain is usually attributed to visceral enlargement. A teenage girl with symptoms of appendicitis was found at laparotomy to have mesenteric adenitis. Postoperatively, she developed classic features of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced mononucleosis. The lymphoproliferation characteristic of EBV infection can cause severe localized abdominal pain that predates the onset of mononucleosis.

[Ileus caused by tuberculosis]. / Ileus durch Tuberkulose.

We report on a 30-year old patient suffering from acute abdomen. X-ray examinations (abdomen photograph, passage of contrast medium) showed an obstructive ileus of the small bowel. Exploratory laparatomy revealed an obstruction of the small bowel by means of masses of lymphatic nodes as part of a mesenteric lymphadenopathy. M. tuberculosis was identified as growing in cultures of peritoneal smears and material of lymphatic nodes. The retrospective examination of the pre-operative x-ray photographs of the chest showed an old primary complex of the lung. A combination of four antituberculotic drugs: Rifampicin, ethambutol, isoniazid and pyrazinamid was administered following the concept of a 6-month regimen. This treatment was successful: CT-scans of the abdomen showed a reduction of the mesenterial lymphadenopathy and the disappearance of the duodenal impression in the follow-up after 4 weeks of therapy. The abdominal TBC represents a severe disease requiring a differential diagnostic distinction from other abdominal diseases such as ileitis terminalis, Crohn's disease, neoplass as especially gastrointestinal lymphomas, giardiasis, amoebiasis and yersinia enterocolitis. The disease has a special importance among immigrant populations.

Tuberculous mesenteric lymphadenitis presenting as pyloric stenosis.

A 17-year-old Filipina with a three-year history of intermittent, projectile vomiting and weight loss was admitted. A diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease was made, but she was unresponsive to antiulcer therapy. Fever, anorexia, cough, and exposure to tuberculosis were denied. Chest x-ray was normal. On barium swallow, the stomach and duodenal bulb were dilated. Endoscopic antral biopsy showed chronic inflammation. Computed tomography revealed enlarged periportal and peripancreatic lymph nodes and an intrahepatic mass. Liver biopsy failed to show any acid-fast bacilli. On laparotomy, the pyloroduodenal area was extrinsically compressed by surrounding lymph nodes, which, on biopsy, contained granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis and Langhan's giant cells. Gastrojejunostomy was done and antituberculous drugs were given. Pyloric stenosis due to tuberculosis is rare, but it should be considered in patients who come from areas where the disease is endemic. Medical management for such cases may suffice.

Agenesis of the appendix--case report.

Agenesis of the appendix is an exceedingly rare abnormality. When it does occur it may represent part of a more generalized ileocaeco-appendicular abnormality or it may occur as a localized event. A case is presented of a 23 year old lady with features of acute appendicitis in whom exploration revealed absence of the appendix and ileo-caecal lymphadenitis. The diagnosis should not be made without thorough exploration including full mobilization of the caecal area. Pre-operative diagnosis is only possible with laparoscopy.

Mesenteric lymphadenitis depicted by indium 111-labeled white blood cell imaging.

An acutely ill child with abdominal pain and concomitant pharyngitis often presents a diagnostic challenge. This report describes how indium 111-labeled white blood cell imaging helped to clarify the confusing case of a 4-year-old boy with fever, pharyngitis, and abdominal pain. The triad of abnormal white cell localization in the nasopharynx, cervical lymph nodes, and right lower abdominal quadrant supported the diagnosis of a systemic infection rather than appendicitis, abscess, or another surgical condition. Mesenteric lymphadenitis associated with systemic infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in a child with this clinical presentation.

Chronic intussusception associated with Yersinia enterocolitica mesenteric adenitis.

An unusual case of chronic intussusception, without any digestive sign, secondary to mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica is reported. Operative reduction by taxis was performed but ileopexy and antibiotic treatment were also carried out to reduce chances of recurrent intussusception.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of intra-abdominal lymph nodes manifesting as recurrent fever of unknown origin: a case report.

A 27-year-old man presented with a 7-month history of debilitating recurrent fever and weight loss. Extensive clinical evaluation led to the discovery of splenomegaly and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent splenectomy as well as liver and lymph node biopsy. Histologic examination of the lymph nodes, but not the liver and spleen, revealed inflammatory pseudotumor of lymph nodes. The patient has remained asymptomatic for more than 3 years following the surgical procedure despite the absence of further intervention. Inflammatory pseudotumor of lymph nodes should be considered in the differential evaluation of prolonged or relapsing fever of unknown etiology.