Document Type : Case Report

Authors

• Francisco Igor B. Macedo
• Alice J. Race
• Laszlo M. Hoesel

Michigan State University

Abstract

The majority of blunt trauma is secondary to motor vehicle crashes,especially in those wearing seatbelts or sitting in the front or passenger seat location.Hollow viscus gastrointestinal injuries occur more frequently in small bowel, followed by colorectal, duodenum, stomach and appendix. A 25-year-old male presents after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Initialworkup was significant for moderate amount of pelvic free fluid and curvilinear,cystic­like structures in the pelvis. He subsequently developed peritonitis and underwentdiagnostic laparoscopy, which revealed multiple cystic nodules arising from theperitoneum. Pathology demonstrated benign cystic mesothelioma (BCM). BCM is a very rarecondition of mesothelial­lined, variably sized, fluid­filled cysts that arises from theserous, pericardial or peritoneal lining. Due to the scarcity of cases, its management and prognosis are not fully established. This singular case highlights the necessity for a clinician to have a widedifferential forunusual causes of free pelvic fluid after blunt abdominaltrauma.

Keywords

• Benign cystic mesothelioma
• Blunt trauma
• Laparoscopy