Key words abdomen - mesentery - CT spiral
Introduction
Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a rare inflammatory disease of the adipose tissue
of the mesentery with specific morphological signs in computed tomography (CT) [1 ]. MP is a type of sclerosing mesenteritis which is an IgG4-related sclerosing disease
(ISD) [2 ]. The disease is characterized by necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and fibrosis
of the mesenteric adipose tissue, with these three dominant processes occurring to
different degrees [3 ]
[4 ]. The preferred location is the root of the small bowel mesentery [5 ]
[6 ]. Inflammatory, autoimmune, postoperative, and malignant causes are discussed with
respect to etiology [3 ]
[5 ]
[6 ]. Although there are no specific clinical symptoms of MP, generalized abdominal pain
is common. As a result of the broad use of CT, MP is increasingly diagnosed as an
incidental finding in asymptomatic patients. CT is an important examination method
for diagnosing MP. MP presents with specific signs on a CT image. In addition to an
increase in the density of the mesentery with intercalated nodules, a "fat-ring sign"
as a halo around vessels, formation of a pseudocapsule and displacement of bowel loops
are signs of MP [7 ]
[8 ]. According to the literature, the prevalence of MP is between 0.16 % and 2.4 % [6 ]
[7 ]
[9 ]
[10 ]. MP occurs in every age group, but primarily in 6th to 7th decade of life. The male
to female ratio is 2:1 [6 ]
[11 ]. The differential diagnoses of MP are a broad spectrum of inflammatory, infectious,
neoplastic, vascular-ischemic and idiopathic diseases [12 ]. In particular, NHL must be ruled out in the case of neoplasia [13 ]. The primary goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate a coherence between
MP and an underlying malignant disease.
Materials and Methods
The study included 5595 multislice computed tomography (MSCT) abdomen examinations
acquired between January 2010 and December 2013 (3004 data sets from a tertiary care
hospital and 2591 from a radiology practice). The inclusion criterion for the RIS-based
data search was all CT abdomen examinations with a scanning field from the diaphragm
to the lower abdomen so that visualization of the entire root of the mesentery was
ensured. Follow-up examinations, examinations of the upper abdomen, and CT scans of
the pelvis were not included. The gender ratio in the patient population was almost
equal: 2863 women (51 %) and 2732 men (49 %). The average age was 64.7 +/- 15.13 years
(age range: 4 – 100 years). The database search was performed in the RIS/PACS system
with a search filter. The CT data sets were blinded using identification numbers and
were retrospectively and systematically examined for MP by a radiology specialist
with multi-year experience in abdominal CT. All CT scans were acquired with an MSCT
unit (Brilliance CT 16, Philips Healthcare und Activion CT 16, Toshiba) according
to standard clinical protocols. Images were acquired with an axial scan orientation
and in the craniocaudal direction with a collimation of 16 × 1.5 mm, a rotation time
of 0.75 s, and a pitch factor of 0.94. Automatic tube current modulation. Standard
coronal and sagittal reconstructions in the soft-tissue window (W: 350, C: 50) with
a reconstruction interval of 5 mm were generated from the MSCT data sets. 90 % of
the examinations (5053) were examined with an i. v. contrast agent. No i. v. contrast
agent was used in 10 % of the examinations (542). 5595 MSCT data sets were thoroughly
examined for the typical signs of MP. At least three of five criteria had to be present
for a diagnosis of MP. In addition to a diffuse increase in the density of the mesentery
with intercalated nodules and a consecutive space-occupying effect resulting in displacement
of the adjacent bowel loops, a halo around the mesenteric vessels and possible capsule
formation had to be present. The tumoral pseudocapsule is visualized as a narrow band
of compression and limits the process with respect to normal mesenteric adipose tissue
([Fig. 1, ]
[Table 1 ]). Patients were first evaluated with respect to known tumor diseases. Statistical
evaluations were performed with IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 23, Chicago, IL, USA)
and EXCEL 2010 (Microsoft). Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD).
Multivariate regression analyses including the hazard ratios were performed. The nonparametric
Mann-Whitney U-test for independent variables and the Wilcoxon signed rank test for
dependent variables were used.
Fig. 1 Typical imaging of MP: a MP represents a delicate pseudocapsule (arrow 2 mm) and an increase in density and
intercalated nodules (4 mm). The coronal reformation offers a good overview of the
number and size of nodules b . In the magnification the "fat-ring sign" around the nodule is demarcated (c , dotted arrow). The sagittal reconstruction shows the craniocaudal diameter of the
MP and the space-occupying component d . The block arrows show the space-occupying effect d . The pseudocapsule limits the MP. An infiltration of adjacent structures must be
missing.
Table 1
Diagnostic criteria of MP in computed tomography. A diagnosis of MP is likely if at
least three criteria are met.
morphological criteria of MP in computed tomography
diffuse increase in density of mesenteric adipose tissue with a ground-glass appearance
intercalated nodules
pseudocapsule
“fat-ring sign”
space-occupying effect with displacement or compression of bowel loops
Results
143 of 5595 retrospectively examined MSCT data sets (2.55 %) showed typical signs
of MP. 87 data sets came from the tertiary care hospital and 56 MSCT data sets from
the radiological practice. The male to female ratio was approx. 60 % to 40 % (90/143
male, 53/143 female). The average age was 69.9 +/- 10.65 years (range: 32 – 92 years).
3 signs of MP could be reliably diagnosed in 38/143 cases (26.6 %), 4 signs in 54/143
(37.8 %), and all signs in 51/143 patients (35.8 %) on computed tomography ([Fig. 2 ]). An increase in the density of the mesentery with mean values of -67 HU +/- 18
HU was seen in all patients (143) in our cohort. Intercalated nodules with a mean
cross-sectional diameter of 8 mm (+/- 4 mm) were detected in 142 patients (97.2 %).
A space-occupying effect with displacement of the adjacent bowel loops was diagnosed
in 78 % of cases (111), formation of a pseudocapsule in 70 % of cases (100), and a
halo sign in 86 patients (60 %) ([Fig. 3 ]).
Fig. 2 Frequency of the criteria of MP based on the total collective with MP.
Fig. 3 Distribution of the diagnostic criteria for MP in the entire patient population.
A tumor disease was confirmed in 1974/5595 patients (35.2 %). The average age in this
group was 67.6 +/- 12.55 years (age range: 4 – 100 years). The gender ratio was almost
1:1 (988 men, 986 women). The tumor entities and the frequency distribution are shown
in [Table 2 ]. A histopathologically confirmed oncological disease with a maximum in the case
of lymphoma was present in 107 of the 143 patients with MP (74.8 %) at the time of
CT evaluation. In 36/143 patients (25.2 %) with diagnosed MP, there was no known tumor
disease in the medical history. The average age of these patients was 69.8 +/- 11.13
years (age range: 49 – 92 years). The gender ratio was almost equal 19/36 men (52.8 %)
and 17/36 women (47.2 %).
Table 2
Frequency of different tumor entities in relation to the overall population as well
as occurrence of MP with respect to the tumor entity.
tumor entity
frequency tumor/overall population
%
frequency MP/tumor entity
%
frequency MP with tumor/MP overall
%
lymphoma
128/5595
2.26
29/128
22.65
29/143
20.27
colorectal cancer
452/5595
8.07
20/452
4.42
20/143
13.98
prostate cancer
180/5595
3.21
11/180
6.11
11/143
7.69
breast cancer
262/5595
4.68
5/262
1.90
5/143
3.49
pancreatic cancer
64/5595
1.14
7/64
10.93
7/143
4.89
gastric cancer
110/5595
1.96
5/110
4.54
5/143
3.49
renal cell carcinoma
108/5595
1.93
3/108
2.77
3/143
2.09
bronchial cancer
126/5595
2.25
7/126
5.55
7/143
4.89
bladder cancer
79/5595
1.41
5/79
6.32
5/143
3.49
melanoma
44/5595
0.78
2/44
4.55
2/143
1.39
esophageal cancer
48/5595
0.85
3/48
6.25
3/143
2.09
uterine cancer
46/5595
0.66
1/46
2.17
1/143
0.69
ovarian cancer
84/5595
1.50
1/84
1.19
1/143
0.69
other
246/5595
4.39
8/264
3.25
8/143
5.59
n = 107/143.
In our patient population MP was significantly more frequently associated with an
underlying oncological disease (p < 0.005). The greatest prevalence for MP was seen
in the group with lymphoma diseases. 22.65 % of patients with confirmed lymphoma disease
presented with MP. Frequency distribution of the diagnostic criteria of MP on the
MSCT image shows a tendency toward MP without an associated tumor in our cohort ([Fig. 4 ], [5 ]). Therefore, the criteria of increased density and intercalated nodules in the MP
cohort with and without tumor disease were not significantly different. The mean cross-sectional
diameter of the nodules in the entire cohort was 8 mm (+/- 4 mm). The space-occupying
component was seen slightly more frequently in the non-oncological group than in the
oncological group (81 % (29/36) vs. 77.6 % (83/107)). A typical halo sign was diagnosed
in 62/107 patients (58 %) in the oncological group and in 25/36 patients (69 %) in
the non-oncological group. Pseudocapsules were seen more frequently in the non-oncological
group (86 % (31/36)) than in the oncological group (64 % (69/107)) ([Fig. 6 ]). According to the retrospective analysis of our data, the presence of a tumor disease
is 5211 (CI 95 % 3549 – 7651) times more likely in the case of MP (p < 0.001). The
risk of MP increases with age by 24 % per 10 years (p < 0.02).
Fig. 4 Frequency of diagnostic criteria of MP in patient population with a tumor disease
(107/143).
Fig. 5 Frequency of diagnostic criteria of MP in group of patients without a tumor disease
(36/143).
Fig. 6 Distribution of the diagnostic criteria of MP separately for oncological and non-oncological
collective.
Discussion
MP is typically an incidental CT finding in asymptomatic patients or is diagnosed
during abdominal surgery [9 ]
[14 ]. Important diagnostic criteria of MP in abdominal CT are increased density of the
mesentery, a “fat-ring sign”, a pseudocapsule, intercalated nodules, and displacement
of the bowel loops. In the present study at least one diffuse increase in density
of the affected mesentery with intercalated nodules was found in all patients with
a diagnosis of MP. Intercalated nodules in the affected mesentery with an average
size of less than 10 mm are observed in most patients [10 ]
[15 ]. Wilkes et al. postulated an increased risk for occult malignancy in nodules with
a size of at least 12 mm and a lack of “fat-ring sign” or halo sign [1 ]. In our patient population 58 % of cases of MP with an underlying oncological disease
had a “fat-ring sign” or a halo sign, while the sign was seen in 69 % of cases in
the group of MP without tumor disease. A significant difference in nodule size in
MP with and without tumor association was not seen in our cohort ([Table 3 ]). With a mean value of -67 HU, the increase in density in the affected mesentery
in our patient population was significantly higher compared to unaffected adipose
tissue (-109) and is comparable with the data in the literature [9 ]
[10 ]. Displacement of adjacent bowel loops was identified in 77 % of cases, a pseudocapsule
in 70 % of cases, and a "fat-ring sign" in 60.1 % of cases. Studies by Daskalogianaki
and Sabate showed similar results regarding the occurrence of a pseudocapsule and
a "fat-ring sign" and describe changes that are useful for the differentiation from
a lymphoma [5 ]
[9 ]. The average thickness of a pseudocapsule is 3 mm [7 ]
[9 ]
[10 ]. With respect to MP, the literature predominantly contains case reports. The frequency
of MP is specified in the literature with a range from 0.16 % to 7.83 %. In a prospective
study including 7620 patients, Daskalogianaki et al. diagnosed MP in 49 patients (0.6 %).
A retrospective study by Gögebakan et al. showed a similar prevalence (0.58 % of a
total of 13 485 patients) [10 ]. The lowest prevalence for MP is seen in a New Zealand study: 0.16 % of the study
population over a period of 8 years [1 ]. A limit of the study design of Gögebakan et al. and Wilkes et al. is the use of
a keyword-based search method to search for MP in databases. Kuhrmeier identified
mesenteric lipodystrophy with typical macroscopic and histopathological changes of
the mesenteric adipose tissue in 9 of 712 autopsies (1.26 %) [16 ].
Table 3
Frequencies of the criteria of MP in CT in relation to frequently occurring tumor
entities and the non-oncological group.
number
mesentery with milk-glass appearance
[%]
number of nodules [%]
Ø
“fat-ring sign” or halo sign
pseudocapsule
space-occupying effect
NHL
29/128 (22.6 %)
29/29
(100 %)
29/29
(100 %)
8.01 mm +/– 4.33
3 – 15 mm
12/29
(41 %)
17/29
(58.6 %)
20/29
(68.9 %)
colorectal cancer
20/452
(4.4 %)
20/20
(100 %)
20/20
(100 %)
7.45 mm +/–4.08 mm
3 – 15 mm
10/20
(50 %)
12/20
(60 %)
13/20
(65 %)
prostate cancer
11/180
(6.1 %)
11/11
(100 %)
11/11
(100 %)
8.54 mm +/– 4.08 mm
3 – 15 mm
7/11
(63.3 %)
7/11
(63.3 %)
8/11
(72.7 %)
bronchial cancer
7/64
(5.5 %)
7/7
(100 %)
7/7
(100 %)
8.5 mm +/– 4.51 mm
3 – 15 mm
5/7
(71.4 %)
7/7
(100 %)
7/7
(100 %)
pancreatic cancer
7/64
(10.9 %)
7/7
(100 %)
7/7
(100 %)
7.28 +/– 4.26 mm
3 – 15 mm
5/7
(71.4 %)
5/7
(71.4 %)
6/7
(85.7 %)
non-oncological group
36/3621
(0.99 %)
36/36
(100 %)
36/36
(100 %)
7.5 mm +/– 3.71 mm
3 – 15 mm
25/36
(69.4 %)
31/36
(86.1 %)
29/36
(80.5 %)
In a prospective evaluation of CT scans of 613 patients, the workgroup of Coulier
showed a prevalence of 7.83 %. They postulated that the reason for this higher prevalence
of MP compared to earlier studies could be explained by advances in CT technology
with the increasing use of multidetector CT [8 ]. Canyigit et al. published a prevalence of 2.43 % in 2100 retrospectively evaluated
patients [7 ].
In the present study, 143 cases of MP in a retrospectively evaluated cohort of 5595
patients (2.55 %) were identified. There was a histopathologically confirmed malignancy
in 107 of these 143 cases (74.8 %). Therefore, in our cohort MP occurred significantly
more frequently in the presence of an oncological disease. The most common tumor entity
associated with MP in our patient population was non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Daskalogianaki
et al. described a concomitant oncological disease in 34 patients with MP (69.3 %).
NHL was the most frequently seen malignant disease associated with MP [9 ]. Wilkes et. al identified a tumor association in 38 % of MP cases. The most common
tumor entity in this study was colorectal cancer followed by lymphoma [1 ]. Canyigit et al. and Akram et al. described a relatively low association between
MP and a malignant disease (17.6 % and 13 %, respectively) [6 ]
[7 ]. In the retrospective case-control study by Gögebakan et al., a concomitant tumor
disease was detected in 50.6 % of patients with MP-related changes. The majority of
these cases were categorized as mild and moderate according to Coulier. More patients
in the control group had a malignant disease (61.2 %). No significant relationship
between tumor disease and the occurrence of MP was determined based on the data of
this cohort [10 ]. In our cohort with a tumor disease (1974), 107 patients showed MP-related changes.
In the patient group without a tumor disease (3621), 36 cases of MP were diagnosed.
The prevalence for MP in the oncological group (5.7 %) was significantly higher than
in the group without a tumor disease (1 %). In our patient population, NHL was associated
with MP in 29 cases, comprising 22.6 % of our lymphoma patients. Colorectal, bronchial,
prostate and pancreatic cancers were also often associated with MP ([Table 3 ]). An association of MP with lymphoma, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has also
been described in previous studies [6 ]
[9 ]
[17 ]
[18 ]. The extent to which MP is a reaction to an already present malignancy or is merely
an incidental finding without an association with a tumor disease is unclear. The
literature is divided with respect to the relationship between MP and malignancies.
The pathogenesis of MP in tumor diseases is also unclear and controversial. Kipfer
et al. postulated that MP is a nonspecific reaction to an abdominal malignancy [19 ]. Although the results of the study by Daskalogiannaki et al. could not confirm this
thesis since 55.8 % of the MP patients in their cohort had a tumor in an extraabdominal
location, they did confirm the hypothesis of MP as a predictor for a malignancy since
69.4 % of the patients with MP had a tumor disease [9 ]. Wilkens et al. formulated the thesis of MP as a possible paraneoplastic syndrome
in the case of a tumor disease [1 ]. Our cohort also confirms the theory of MP as a predictor of tumor disease since
74.8 % of MP patients had a tumor disease. A typical constellation of MP features
that reliably indicates tumor disease or a non-neoplastic genesis cannot be determined
from our data. On the whole, we observed the “fat-ring sign” or the halo sign and
psuedocapsule formation more frequently in the non-oncological group ([Table 3 ]). MP is predominantly observed in older patients in the 6th-7th decade of life.
MP seems to occur predominantly in males with a male to female ratio of 2:1 [6 ]
[7 ]
[20 ]. A maximum occurrence in the 6th-7th decade of life and a male to female ratio of
2:1 were also seen in our cohort. This high average age could be a limitation of our
cohort since there is already an increased risk for a tumor disease with increasing
age [10 ]. A relatively low number of patients in the large cohort had MP. However, due to
the retrospective analysis of all CT data sets, it is possible to provide complete
representation of the prevalence in our cohort. MP can be reliably diagnosed on a
purely morphological basis under consideration of the diagnostic criteria [10 ]
[11 ]
[21 ]. A keyword-based database search may include the error of incorrectly low diagnosis
of MP since some authors consider MP underdiagnosed [17 ]
[20 ]. Since different MP triggers have been discussed [6 ]
[7 ]
[9 ]
[11 ]
[22 ]
[23 ]
[24 ]
[25 ], the diagnosis of MP should not necessarily result in escalation of the diagnosis
to possible tumor disease but rather should be discussed in light of the potential
risk.
