THORACIC MESOTHELIOMA ASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL MESENTERIC PANNICULITIS

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is characterized by an abdominal inflamma tory reaction and mesenteric fat necrosis. Clinically, MP manifests as recurrent abdominal pain, pyrexia, and space-occupying peritoneal mas ses. We report a patient with MP, severe enough to require immunosuppr essant treatment, who developed a recurrent pleural effusion. Malignan t mesothelioma was identified in the pleural space 3 yr after initial pleural investigation. This case is the second report of pleural effus ion associated with MP. It is the first report in which thoracic mesot helioma and MP occurred together. MP has been associated with other ma lignancies.