TL;DR: It is shown that tumors phenotypically identical with GISTs occur as primary tumors in the omentum and mesentery and the occurrence of CD117-positive tumors outside the gastrointestinal tract militates against an origin of these tumors exclusively from the interstitial cells of Cajal.
Abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor or smooth muscle tumor (GIST) is the designation for a major subset of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors that histologically, immunohistochemically, and genetically differ from typical leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, and schwannomas. Because GISTs, like the interstitial cells of Cajal, the gastrointestinal pacemaker cells, express CD117 (c-kit protein), the origin of GISTs from the interstitial cells of Cajal has been recently proposed. Comparison of GISTs primary in the omentum and mesentery to GISTs primary in the tubular gastrointestinal tract is of particular diagnostic and histogenetic interest in view of the possible similarity of these tumors with the GIST group. In this study, we analyzed 14 omental and 12 mesenteric primary mesenchymal tumors representing smooth muscle tumors or GISTs. These tumors were phenotypically compared with gastric and small intestinal GISTs, leiomyomas of the esophagus, and leiomyosarcomas of the retroperitoneum. Most (13 of 14) omental and mesenteric (10 of 12) tumors showed histologic features similar to GISTs with elongated spindle cells or epithelioid cells with high cellularity; most of these tumors showed low mitotic activity. Omental and mesenteric GISTs were typically positive for CD117 and less consistently for CD34. They often showed alpha-smooth muscle actin reactivity but were virtually negative for desmin and S-100 protein. One omental and two mesenteric tumors showed features of leiomyosarcoma with ovoid, less elongated nuclei, cytoplasmic eosinophilia; all these tumors had significant mitotic activity. These tumors were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and two of them for desmin, but all were negative for CD34 and CD117, similar to retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas. Tumor-related mortality occurred in the group of mesenteric GISTs, but not in the group of omental GISTs. In contrast, all three patients with a true leiomyosarcoma of the omentum or mesentery had documented liver metastases or died of tumor. In summary, we show that tumors phenotypically identical with GISTs occur as primary tumors in the omentum and mesentery. The occurrence of CD117-positive tumors outside the gastrointestinal tract militates against an origin of these tumors exclusively from the interstitial cells of Cajal.
TL;DR: CT findings of mesenteric panniculitis may be seen in patients undergoing abdominal CT for various symptoms, and a female predominance was found.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of mesenteric panniculitis on CT and to describe its appearance and associated diseases.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A total of 7620 consecutive abdominal CT examinations were prospectively evaluated for features common to mesenteric panniculitis such as a well-delineated inhomogeneous hyperattenuated fatty mass at the mesenteric root, envelopment of mesenteric vessels, and no evidence of invasion of the adjacent small-bowel loops that may be displaced.RESULTS. CT findings of mesenteric panniculitis were seen in 49 patients (0.6%). We found a female predominance. Mesenteric panniculitis coexisted with malignancy in 34 patients and with benign disorders in 11 patients. In the remaining four patients, mesenteric panniculitis, verified on histology, was considered to be responsible for the patients' clinical manifestations; no other abnormality was identified. Soft-tissue nodules (n = 39) and a fatty halo surrounding vessels and nodules (n = 42) were obs...
TL;DR: Inclusion of mesentery in ileocolic resection for Crohn’s disease is associated with reduced recurrence requiring reoperation and the mesenteric disease activity index was significantly worse in smokers and correlated with increases in circulating fibrocytes.
Abstract: Background and Aims Inclusion of the mesentery during resection for colorectal cancer is associated with improved outcomes but has yet to be evaluated in Crohn's disease. This study aimed to determine the rate of surgical recurrence after inclusion of mesentery during ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease. Methods Surgical recurrence rates were compared between two cohorts. Cohort A [n = 30] underwent conventional ileocolic resection where the mesentery was divided flush with the intestine. Cohort B [n = 34] underwent resection which included excision of the mesentery. The relationship between mesenteric disease severity and surgical recurrence was determined in a separate cohort [n = 94]. A mesenteric disease activity index was developed to quantify disease severity. This was correlated with the Crohn's disease activity index and the fibrocyte percentage in circulating white cells. Results Cumulative reoperation rates were 40% and 2.9% in cohorts A and B [P = 0.003], respectively. Surgical technique was an independent determinant of outcome [P = 0.007]. Length of resected intestine was shorter in cohort B, whilst lymph node yield was higher [12.25 ± 13 versus 2.4 ± 2.9, P = 0.002]. Advanced mesenteric disease predicted increased surgical recurrence [Hazard Ratio 4.7, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.71-13.01, P = 0.003]. The mesenteric disease activity index correlated with the mucosal disease activity index [r = 0.76, p < 0.0001] and the Crohn's disease activity index [r = 0.70, p < 0.0001]. The mesenteric disease activity index was significantly worse in smokers and correlated with increases in circulating fibrocytes. Conclusions Inclusion of mesentery in ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease is associated with reduced recurrence requiring reoperation.
TL;DR: This Review aims to provide a platform from which to direct future scientific investigation of the human mesentery in health and disease and explores its role in human disease.
TL;DR: Emphasis is placed on the importance of identifying lymphangioma, which is more difficult to manage than the other forms of mesenteric and omental cysts.
Abstract: Forty-one cases of mesenteric and omental cysts are reported. Histologically, several specific types could be distinguished: lymphangioma, 19 cases; nonpancreatic pseudocyst, 11 cases; enteric duplication cyst, six cases; mesothelial cyst, three cases; and enteric cyst, two cases. A lymphangioma is usually a multiloculated cyst located in the mesentery that shows no discernible wall on computed tomography (CT) and may have characteristics of fat on CT and magnetic resonance imaging. Abnormalities in the small bowel mucosa were frequently noted on barium studies. A nonpancreatic pseudocyst is usually a unilocular or multilocular cyst located in either the mesentery or the omentum, with abundant debris sonographically and an enhancing wall on CT. An enteric duplication cyst is a unilocular cyst with an enhancing wall on CT. Mesothelial and enteric cysts are anechoic, thin-walled cysts. Emphasis is placed on the importance of identifying lymphangioma, which is more difficult to manage than the other forms of mesenteric and omental cysts.