Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy in Childhood Epidemic Aseptic Meningitis: Sonographic Features and Clinical Significance.
- Author:
Sung Hee MUN
1
;
Young Chan PARK
;
Young Hwan LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Catholic University of Daegu, College of Medicine, korea. radindex@cu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Lymphatic system, US;
Mesentery, US;
Children, gastrointestinal tract
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain;
Diagnosis;
Diarrhea;
Enterovirus;
Female;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes;
Lymphatic Diseases*;
Male;
Meningitis, Aseptic*;
Mesenteric Lymphadenitis;
Prospective Studies;
Ultrasonography*
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound
2006;25(3):139-143
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate the sonographic features of mesenteric lymphadenopathy in childhood epidemic aseptic meningitis and to assess their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients (25 male, 8 female; mean age, 8.6 years) with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis were prospectively evaluated with abdominal ultrasonography for the presence of enlarged mesen-teric nodes. The size and number of enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were analyzed in relationship with the pa-tient's age, between the patients with abdominal pain or diarrhea (16 cases, 48%) and asymptomatic patients(17 cases, 52%). RESULTS: Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was seen in 31 patients (94%), all 16 symptomatic and 15 of the 17 asymp-tomatic patients. The number of enlarged nodes was most prevalent between 6 -10, seen in 16 patients (52%) and the largest node ranged in size from 4 to 8 mm. Among the 31 patients with mesenteric lymphadenopathy, the mean size of the largest node was statistically different between the symptomatic (6.0 mm) and asympto-matic (5.0 mm) groups (p = 0.021). The number of enlarged nodes and the patient's age were not statistically d-ifferent between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was seen in almost all cases of childhood epidemic aseptic meningitis, and may be related to the mesenteric lymphadenitis caused by enterovirus.
