Persistent descending mesocolon

Case contributed by Hoe Han Guan
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Vague abdominal pain with diarrhea.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male

Oblique orientation of the descending colon, which seems to have failure of fusion of descending mesocolon to the lateral and posterior parietal peritoneum. It has caused medialisation of descending colon and small bowel loops seem to be located lateral to it. Features are consistent with persistent descending mesocolon.

Annotated image

Annotated images show the oblique orientation and medialisation of descending colon. Better seen in coronal view.

Case Discussion

Recognition of this rare normal anatomical variant is important although most of the cases are asymptomatic. However, it has clinical significance as it may cause intestinal obstructionvolvulusintussusception as well as the internal hernia.

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