Mesenteric lipodystrophy is a rare and benign disease characterized by non-specific inflammation of mesenteric fat. Nomenclature of the disease changes according to the histological features and clinical presentation. The etiology is still obscure, and the clinical presentation and laboratory tests are non-specific. In the majority of cases, the diagnosis is primarily based on computerized tomography (CT) features. There is no specific treatment available for mesenteric lipodystrophy. Radical surgical treatment is not advised. We report a case of distended abdomen caused by mesenteric lipodystrophy along with ultrasonography (US), CT and magnetic resonance (MR) findings and a review of the literature.

Mesenteric lipodystrophy is a rare and benign disease characterized by non-specific inflammation of mesenteric fat. Nomenclature of the disease changes according to the histological features and clinical presentation. The etiology is still obscure, and the clinical presentation and laboratory tests are non-specific. In the majority of cases, the diagnosis is primarily based on computerized tomography (CT) features. There is no specific treatment available for mesenteric lipodystrophy. Radical surgical treatment is not advised. We report a case of distended abdomen caused by mesenteric lipodystrophy along with ultrasonography (US), CT and magnetic resonance (MR) findings and a review of the literature.