Variants of Retroperitoneal Fibrosis

Abstract

The syndromes of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis and mesenteric panniculitis are reviewed. Variants as reported in the literature are listed. Five patients with idiopathic fibrosis encountered at laparotomy are reported. Current concepts of the etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic fibrosis are reviewed. The relationship of the idiopathic fibrotic processes to each other and to other fibrotic processes of the body is discussed.