Mesenteric fibromatosis: a rare cause of acute abdominal pain.

A 45-year-old man, with a previous history of astrocytoma, presented with diffuse abdominal pain. A CT scan was non-specific and the pain worsened; his abdomen became peritonitic on examination. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a large small bowel mesenteric mass was found together with an associated haematoma. Subsequent histology showed the tumour to be a benign fibromatosis, and the patient recovered uneventfully. There were no reports in the literature of any association between astrocytomas and fibromatosis. Mesenteric fibromatosis is a rare tumour often associated with Gardner's syndrome. It can present in a multitude of ways and the only definite treatment is surgical resection.