Clinical presentation

In March 2003, the patient exhibited severe right lower abdominal pain. This 71 year old man was also suffering with severe diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure, and had undergone resection of the descending colon for mesenteric panniculitis in 2001. On admission, the patient’s white blood cell count was 8900/μl and C reactive protein concentration was 8.9 mg/dl. Serum blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and K⁺ levels were 77 mg/dl, 4.8 mg/dl, and 4.6 mEq/l, respectively. An abdominal CT was performed (fig 1).

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Figure 1

Question

How does it explain the abdominal pain?

See page 1158 for answer

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