The abdominal cocoon. A case report.

The abdominal cocoon, or idiopathic sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis, is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. This rare condition, in which the small intestine is encased in a thick fibrous membrane, has been reported predominantly in females. Despite some reports of a preoperative diagnosis, in the majority of cases diagnosis is only made at laparotomy for acute or subacute intestinal obstruction. Treatment consists of resection of the membrane with lysis of adhesions. We present a case of abdominal cocoon in a man where early preoperative diagnosis by radiological evaluation was overlooked. A better awareness of this condition may result in early diagnosis and proper management, thus avoiding unnecessary bowel resections and bad outcomes.