Partial obstruction of the small bowel caused by retractile mesenteritis.

A 47-year-old man presented with incomplete obstruction of the small bowel of obscure etiology. Laparotomy revealed a localized, nonencapsulated, indurated nodular mass in the mesentery, with secondary kinking of a short segment of the proximal ileum. Pathologic study showed focal chronic ischemic ileitis caused by retractile mesenteritis (nonspecific sclerosing panniculitis) confined to the mesentery.