Fatal polyarteritis nodosa with massive mesenteric necrosis in a child

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare vasculitic syndrome in childhood. Ther e are few reported cases of ischaemic necrosis of the intestine and even fe wer survivors in adults. We report the case of a 10-year-old boy with PAN a nd an acute abdomen that required operative intervention. Evidence was foun d of mesenteric arteritis with large ischaemic segments resulting in infarc tion and perforation.