CYSTS OF the mesentery are rare and chylous cysts are extremely rare, so that the experience of any one surgeon or institution with this condition is necessarily limited. The history and the symptoms are usually varied and not characteristic; the physical and roentgenologic findings, although suggestive, are never pathognomonic. Consequently, the diagnosis is regularly made at the time of abdominal exploration or postmortem examination.
This report describes two cases of chylous mesenteric cysts observed at The Mount Sinai Hospital and City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, NY, in the recent year, for the purpose of illustrating the uncommon presenting symptomatology of one of these patients and reviewing the present concepts in the pathogenesis and treatment of these rare pathological conditions.
Report of Cases
Case 1.
—A 38-year-old Puerto Rican woman was admitted to the City Hospital Center at Elmhurst for the third time on Nov 1, 1965, with complaints of slow-growing