Mesenteric lipoma with small bowel volvulus: A rare cause of upper gastrointestinal obstruction (a case report and literature review)

• Published in: International journal of surgery case reports 2022-03, Vol.92, p.106875-106875, Article 106875
• Main Authors: Bouali, M., Sylvestre, K., ElBakouri, A., El Hattabi, K., Bensardi, F.Z., Fadil, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Report; Mesenteric lipoma; S mall bowel obstruction; Small bowel volvulus
• ISSN: 2210-2612; 2210-2612
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.106875

Small bowel volvulus due to mesenteric lipoma is a rare clinical entity. It poses both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Small bowel mesenteric lipoma is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction. We present the case of a patient admitted to our emergency department for a small bowel volvulus due to a mesenteric lipoma with small intestine obstruction. A 61 years old man, with diabetes since 25 years with antidiabetics oral medication, vaccinated against Covid 19 (two doses) who presented with peri-umbilical pain for two months, constipation and melaena, complicated 3 days before his admission by obstructive symptoms and vomiting with apyrexia and overall health state alteration. The physical examination noticed abdomen distension and the abdominal CT scan revealed a large fatty mass of the hypochondrium and left flank, roughly oval with regular borders, well limited measuring 124 × 86 mm of height of 126 mm thought to be a liposarcoma. The patient underwent enbloc resection of 20 cm of small bowel with the mass and end to end anastomosis of the ileo-ileum. The postoperative course was uneventful and he was been discharged from hospital on day 5. Mesenteric lipomas are diagnosed incidentally after laparoscopy or laparatomy. Ultrasound shows a well defined homogenous echogenic mass, and so can distinguish it from a mesenteric cyst. Computed Tomography (CT) is the standard imaging of diagnosis and shows homogenous tumor of adipose tissue. The treatment is surgery and the prognosis is better. The mesenteric is an uncommon location of lipoma. When there is small bowel obstruction with intra-abdominal mass, the mesenteric lipoma could be recalled. •Mesenteric lipoma is rare.•Small bowel volvulus due to lipoma is a rare clinical entity.•The diagnosis and management•Although they are benign, the mesenteric lipomas discovered must be treated.