Mesenteric vasculitis associated with Sezary syndrome

A 71 year old lady with Sezary syndrome presented with chronic diarrhoea and cramping abdominal pains. A small bowel meal x ray examination showed two mid-ileal strictures. At laparotomy the small intestine was found to be sub-acutely obstructed and resection of a 15 cm ileal stricture and stricturoplasty of a second, 10 cm stricture were performed. Histological examination of the stricture revealed a mesenteric vasculitis with secondary ischaemic changes in the small bowel wall. Mesenteric vasculitis causing small bowel stricture may be associated with Sezary syndrome.