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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffLymph nodes are collections of cells that play a key role in your body's ability to fight off illness. In mesenteric lymphadenitis, the lymph nodes in a membrane that attaches your intestine to your abdominal wall (mesentery) become inflamed — usually as a result of an intestinal infection.
Mesenteric lymphadenitis occurs mainly in children and teens and often mimics the signs and symptoms of appendicitis. Unlike appendicitis, however, mesenteric lymphadenitis is seldom serious and clears on its own in a few days or weeks.
Mesenteric lymphadenitis also can occur in healthy children who have no symptoms. In these cases, swollen lymph nodes are found on imaging tests for another problem. Mesenteric lymphadenitis that doesn't cause symptoms isn't a concern and rarely needs further evaluation.
- Leung AK, et al. Acute abdominal pain in children. American Family Physician. 2003;67(11):2321-2326.
- Vanyer K, et al. Mesenteric lymphadenopathy in children examined by US for chronic and/or recurrent abdominal pain. Pediatric Radiology. 2003;33(12): 864-867.
- Micari M, et al. Mesenteric adentitis: CT diagnosis of primary versus secondary causes, incidence, and clinical significance in pediatric and adult patients. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2002;178:853-858.
- Rathaus V, et al. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes in asymptomatic children: The value of the finding in various imaging modalities. The British Journal of Radiology. 2005;78(925):30-33.
- Boaz K. et al. Mesenteric lymph nodes in children: What is normal? Pediatric Radiology. 2005;35(8):774-777.
- Simanovksy N, et al. Importance of sonographic detection of enlarged abdominal lymph nodes in children. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 2007;26(5):581-584.
