Mesenteric stranding

A CT finding of increased attenuation and hazy linear densities within mesenteric fat, reflecting edema, inflammation, hemorrhage, or infiltration of the mesenteric tissues.

Causes

• Adjacent inflammatory and infectious causes

  • Appendicitis

  • Diverticulitis

  • Pancreatitis

  • Cholecystitis

  • Intestinal ischemia

  • Crohn's disease

  • Ulcerative colitis

  • Gastroenteritis

  • Mesenteric lymphadenitis

  • Peritonitis

• Primary mesenteric inflammatory disorders

  • Mesenteric panniculitis

  • Sclerosing mesenteritis

  • Retractile mesenteritis

• Vascular and ischemic causes

  • Mesenteric ischemia

  • Mesenteric venous thrombosis

  • Portal hypertension-related congestion

  • Mesenteric edema due to impaired venous drainage

• Traumatic and hemorrhagic causes

  • Abdominal trauma

  • Mesenteric contusion

  • Mesenteric hematoma

  • Postoperative bleeding

• Malignant and infiltrative causes

  • Lymphoma

  • Metastatic cancer involving the mesentery

  • Peritoneal carcinomatosis

• Systemic causes

  • Hypoalbuminemia

  • Heart failure

  • Liver cirrhosis

  • Kidney failure

  • Generalized fluid overload