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Case Reports: Unusual association of diseases/symptoms
Mesenteric panniculitis as a possible cause of fever of unknown origin
  1. Gregory Richard Lombana1,
  2. Nisha Ajay Patel2 and
  3. Kevin P High3
  1. 1General Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
  2. 2Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
  3. 3Infectious Diseases, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
  1. Correspondence to Mr Gregory Richard Lombana; glombana{at}wakehealth.edu

Abstract

Mesenteric panniculitis is a non-neoplastic condition involving inflammation and fibrosis of the small bowel mesentery. We describe a man in his 60s who presented with 3 months of febrile episodes, confusion and weight loss. The diagnosis of mesenteric panniculitis had been established 2 weeks prior based on an abdominal computerized tomography scan. Extensive diagnostic investigations during his hospitalisation were unrevealing, and the symptoms were ultimately attributed to the mesenteric panniculitis. The fevers resolved over several weeks, and no further episodes have occurred since discharge. This case suggests that mesenteric panniculitis merits consideration in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.

  • Gastroenterology
  • Rheumatology
  • Surgical oncology

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2023-254636

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @GregLombana

    • Contributors GRL was in charge of the initial assembly and construction of this case report. He created the first draft of the title, summary, background, case presentation, investigations, differential diagnosis, outcome and follow-up, learning points, references, and patient perspective. GRL also completed the final editing/reviewing and submission of the paper. NAP provided clinical insights to the aforementioned sections of the manuscript created by GRL, including but not limited to the summary, background, case report, and investigations. She also produced the entire draft of the discussion section and literature review for it. KPH was involved with editing and reviewing the work performed by GRL and NAP His expertise provided clinical insights to numerous components of the paper. He produced the majority of the differential diagnosis section of the paper as well. All three authors were directly involved with the care of the patient during his hospital stay.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.