Sclerosing Mesenteritis

Treatment

If your sclerosing mesenteritis symptoms are mild, you may need only follow-up medical exams.

If your symptoms are severe, you may need medication, surgery or both. Among Mayo Clinic study participants who received treatment:

• 54 percent were treated with medication
• 27 percent had surgery
• 18 percent had surgery and medication

Medication

Mayo Clinic specialists usually prescribe tamoxifen (Soltamox) and the corticosteroid prednisone. The Mayo Clinic study found that 60 percent of people who received that combination therapy had improved symptoms within four months. Mayo Clinic doctors usually recommend a tapered dose of prednisone over three months, and continuing tamoxifen treatment indefinitely if your symptoms are improving. Other less common treatments may be recommended if tamoxifen isn't successful or can't be used.

Surgery

Sclerosing mesenteritis can cause a bowel obstruction, which blocks food from moving through your digestive tract and may be life-threatening. If you have a bowel obstruction, your Mayo Clinic doctor may recommend surgery and follow-up treatment with tamoxifen and prednisone.