HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME Test (opens in a new window) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lucey, B. C. Articles by Soto, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lucey, B. C. Articles by Soto, J. A. Related Collections Computed Tomography Gastrointestinal Radiology General

Mesenteric Lymph Nodes Seen at Imaging: Causes and Significance¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, 88 E Newton St, Atrium 2, Boston, MA 02118. Presented as an education exhibit at the 2003 RSNA Scientific Assembly. Received May 18, 2004; revision requested June 30 and received July 20; accepted July 26. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to B.C.L. (e-mail: brian.lucey{at}bmc.org).

With the advent of multidetector computed tomography, routine evaluation of mesenteric lymph nodes is now possible. For the first time, normal mesenteric nodes may be reliably identified noninvasively. Because of the increasing volume of cross-sectional imaging examinations being performed, lymph nodes in the mesentery are being detected with increasing frequency. This is often an unsuspected finding. Although the detected lymph nodes may be normal, there is a large number of disease processes that may lead to mesenteric lymphadenopathy. The most common causes of mesenteric lymphadenopathy are neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious processes. Many of these causes may also result in lymphadenopathy elsewhere in the body. It is important to recognize mesenteric lymphadenopathy in patients with a history of a primary carcinoma because the lymphadenopathy affects the staging of the disease, which in turn will affect further management. In addition, mesenteric lymphadenopathy may be the only indicator of an underlying inflammatory or infectious process causing abdominal pain. The distribution of the lymph nodes may indicate the exact nature of the underlying disease process, and the correct treatment may then be instituted. Besides neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious processes, many other disease processes may occasionally result in mesenteric lymphadenopathy.

© RSNA, 2005

Abbreviations: AIDS = acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV = human immunodeficiency virus, MAC = Mycobacterium avium complex

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. K. Choi, H. K. Ha, S. H. Park, S. J. Lee, S. E. Jung, K. W. Kim, and S. S. Lee Granulocytic Sarcoma of Bowel: CT Findings Radiology, June 1, 2007; 243(3): 752 - 759. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Ahualli Regarding "Case 90: Disseminated Tuberculosis" Radiology, January 1, 2007; 242(1): 318 - 318. [Full Text] [PDF]