Journal of Clinical Medicine Review Pathogenesis and Clinical Management of Mesenteric Fibrosis in Small Intestinal Neuroendocine Neoplasms: A Systematic Review 1, , 2, 3 2 Anna Koumarianou * y , Krystallenia I. Alexandraki y , Göran Wallin , Gregory Kaltsas and Kosmas Daskalakis 2,3 1 Hematology Oncology Unit, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece 2 1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Endocrine Unit, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
[email protected] (K.I.A.);
[email protected] (G.K.);
[email protected] (K.D.) 3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 85 Örebro, Sweden;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +30-21-0583-1687 Denotes equal contribution. y Received: 12 May 2020; Accepted: 4 June 2020; Published: 8 June 2020 Abstract: Mesenteric fibrosis (MF) constitutes an underrecognized sequela in patients with small intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (SI-NENs), often complicating the disease clinical course. The aim of the present systematic review, carried out by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, is to provide an update in evolving aspects of MF pathogenesis and its clinical management in SI-NENs. Complex and dynamic interactions are present in the microenvironment of tumor deposits in the mesentery. Serotonin, as well as the signaling pathways of certain growth factors play a pivotal, yet not fully elucidated role in the pathogenesis of MF. Clinically, MF often results in significant morbidity by causing either acute complications, such as intestinal obstruction and/or acute ischemia or more chronic conditions involving abdominal pain, venous stasis, malabsorption and malnutrition.