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Journal of Current Surgery

Case Report

Volume 7, Number 4, December 2017, pages 69-71

Cocoon Syndrome: A Rare Entity

The importance of this case relies on the very low frequency of this disease. The difficulty of the diagnosis is the common presentation of the condition as a chronic abdominal unspecific pain and weight loss which makes it difficult to identify clinically unless the patient develops a bowel obstruction. It is also exceptional with the presentation of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) as a primary entity [1].

A 67-year-old male patient was referred from the gastroenterology department to the general surgery department for an exploratory laparotomy with biopsy after several episodes of bowel subclusion for the last year without finding a mechanic cause to justify the symptoms. In his personal history, we can highlight mellitus diabetes treated with insulin and gastric ulcer diagnosed 30 years ago treated with proton pump inhibitors. On exploration, the patient presented with severe protein-calorie malnutrition, hyporexia, vomiting every 3 days and a weight loss of 23 kg.

Among the diagnostic tests that were performed with the intent to diagnose the patient, we wanted to focus on the gastro-esophageal studies that revealed a generalized dilatation of the first part of the bowel and a slow gastric emptying. Computerized tomography (CT) presented an important duodenal, gastric and jejunal distension with plenty of content. The intestinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) emphasized a dilated gastric chamber and duodenum (Fig. 1).

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Figure 1. Radiological sequence was done to our patient. Oesophageal-gastric-duodenal transit shows generalized dilatation of small bowel loops. Computed tomography (CT) presents significant gastric and duodenal distension (up to 85 mm).

The differential diagnosis included systemic lupus erythematosus, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and amyloidosis.

Finally, the patient underwent surgery and an exploratory laparotomy was made, showing a constrictive peritonitis caused by a whitish fibrotic tissue that embraced all the small bowel with dilatation of the stomach and duodenum. All the constrictive tissue was removed and a 5 cm long biopsy of small bowel was taken (Fig. 2).

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Figure 2. The patient underwent surgery and an exploratory laparotomy was made, showing a constrictive peritonitis caused by a whitish fibrotic tissue that embraced all the small bowel with dilatation of the stomach and duodenum. All the constrictive tissue was removed and a 5 cm long biopsy of small bowel was taken.

The pathological anatomy of the biopsies taken showed a generalized chronic inflammatory infiltrate with deposits of collagen with hyaline areas and poor cellularity in the outer layers of the intestine. It is concluded that the diagnosis was peritoneal fibrosis.

After a multidisciplinary hospital session where the case was presented, it was concluded that the definitive diagnostic was primary sclerosing peritonitis or cocoon syndrome.

The postoperative course was favorable and the patient was discharged 5 days after surgery with a corticoid treatment based on the current guidelines to avoid recurrence. In the successive follow-ups, the patient showed a considerable weight gain with the improvement of the performance status.

Achieving accurate diagnosis in affected patients is extremely difficult. The preoperative study should rule out secondary causes of SEP such as tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, post-surgical adhesion syndrome, etc. The vast majority of cases are diagnosed based on intraoperative findings. Radiographs may show diffuse air-fluid levels and dilatation of the small intestine in the form of loops [2]; however, these findings are not specific. Barium studies usually show bowel loops that accumulate in the center of the abdomen, and this finding is called “sign of cauliflower or accordion”. In addition, a slow transit can help the diagnosis as it appeared in our case. CT may show intestinal obstruction, ascites, localized collections, peritoneal or mesenteric thickening, calcifications and lymphadenopathy [2]. The findings of the MRI enterography are usually similar to CT. Surgery has a relevant role in many cases, in order to confirm the diagnosis with a biopsy after ruling out other secondary causes [3].

There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment in patients with SEP, since it is a very rare entity. In patients with mild symptoms, conservative management including bowel rest, nasogastric tube decompression and nutritional support may be considered the most appropriate therapeutic option [4], as a medical treatment also included the use of drugs such as tamoxifen, steroids, colchicine, and azathioprine [2, 5]. In those patients with severe signs of intestinal obstruction, the most appropriate procedure consists of adhesiolysis and excision of the membrane that encapsulates the intestinal surface, with a low recurrence risk [1] and satisfactory long-term results [1, 6, 7].

A limited number of case reports have successfully described membrane excision and laparoscopic adhesiolysis [8, 9]. To avoid complications, such as leakage of anastomosis and short bowel syndrome, in patients with sclerosing peritonitis, intestinal resection is indicated only when necrosis develops [10]. Resection is often unnecessary and, when performed without a clear indication, it may increase patient morbidity and mortality [1, 4]. The administration of an antifibrogenic and anti-inflammatory agents during the postoperative period in patients in which the encapsulating membrane cannot be completely excised appears to be beneficial [2].

A biopsy is mandatory in the patients with a long history of abdominal subclusion when all the radiological findings do not demonstrate a cause.

Exploratory laparotomy is the best option to remove the whole cover of the bowel.

Medical treatment may be used when the patient’s symptoms are mild or in conjunction with surgical treatment to avoid recurrence or in cases of incomplete excision of fibrosis.

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Journal of Current Surgery is published by Elmer Press Inc.