Mesenteric involvement of thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) in a woman.

Although patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease due to thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) have been well characterized and the relationship of this disease to tobacco is stressed, little attention has been focused on its ability to involve the mesenteric vasculature and its ability to affect women. We report a rare case of a known TAO female patient who presented with abdominal pain due to inflammatory changes of the mesenteric vessels. The resulting small bowel ischemic changes and formation of intramural gas were demonstrated on a small bowel follow-through and a plain abdominal film. An angiography finally showed a superior mesenteric artery occlusion.