A Case of Idiopathic Mesenteric Phlebosclerosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

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.