CT features of cavitating mesenteric lymph node syndrome in celiac disease

Cavitating mesenteric lymph node syndrome is a rare but severe complication of celiac disease characterized on CT by cystic, low-attenuation mesenteric nodes with fatty-fluid levels—a finding that should prompt urgent workup for refractory celiac disease or evolving lymphoma.

• Eurorad teaching case reviews the characteristic CT findings: large cystic/cavitating mesenteric lymph nodes with fat-fluid levels, often in patients with long-standing or poorly controlled celiac disease.
• The syndrome signals a high risk for refractory celiac disease type II or enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, making early imaging recognition critical.
• No formal study design or sample size is reported; this is a single educational case summary highlighting a rare but pathognomonic imaging pattern.

RadPigeon summaries are original and for information only. They are not clinical advice.