Diseases Involving the Specialized Folds of the Peritoneum: The Omentum and Mesentery

Primary diseases involving the mesentery and omentum are rare and thus easily overlooked. Due to their proximity to the abdominal and pelvic organs, the mesentery and omentum are often victims of inflammation, edema, hemorrhage, and neoplasms. Furthermore, these diseases often have nonspecific and overlapping imaging features, posing a diagnostic challenge to radiologists and necessitating reliance on clinical information. The terms "peritoneum," "mesentery," and "omentum" are often used interchangeably, although these structures are not the same. Effective treatment relies on both diagnostic and anatomical accuracy. The goal of this article is to define the peritoneum and its specialized folds and then review a gamut of diseases involving the mesentery and omentum.