To the Editor.—Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare condition of unknown origin that has been reported previously in seven children.1,2 We herein report an additional case in a child.
Report of a Case.—A 5-year-old girl presented with increasing abdominal pain of seven days' duration. Her temperature was 39.2°C, and she appeared moderately ill. The abdomen was not distended. There was right-sided abdominal tenderness and fullness but no other peritoneal signs.
The white blood cell count was 38 200/mm3 (38.2 × 109/L), with a severe left shift. Barium enema showed a mass on the medial wall of the ascending colon.
At operation, a large amount of cloudy, foul-smelling, peritoneal fluid was noted. There was a large tumor attached to the medial (mesenteric) wall of the right colon and the hepatic flexure; it was extremely firm and adherent. The appendix and adjacent bowel appeared normal (Figure, top).