Isolated Superior Mesenteric Artery Dissection with Small Intestine Ischemia

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection without aortic dissection is a rare condition, and its diagnosis is considered to be difficult. Intestinal infarction is a severe complication of the disease, which may require resection of the intestine. We present a case of isolated SMA dissection. A 53-year-old man experienced sudden pain in the abdomen while playing Japanese pinball and was admitted to our hospital due to acute abdominal symptoms of uncertain cause. Enhanced CT revealed a defect of the root of the SMA, while angiography and intravascular ultrasound findings showed dissection of the SMA wall. Conservative treatment was chosen at the time, while a part of the small intestine was eventually resected because of progressive ischemia. Although SMA dissection is a rare occurrence in cases with acute abdominal symptoms, awareness of the condition is important for differential diagnosis.