Abdominal Cocoon Syndrome

S Ranganathan, BJJ Abdullah, V Sivanesaratnam

Hong Kong J Radiol 2003;6:201-3

The abdominal cocoon syndrome was first described as a rare condition where part of or the whole small bowel is encased within a fibrous membrane. This report is of a 25-year-old Chinese woman who presented with increasing abdominal distension and jaundice, and was thought to have liver pathology. However, at ultrasound and computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis, a multiloculated huge cystic structure was seen, extending from the pelvis to the liver with a loop of small bowel encased within. Postoperatively, the diagnosis of an abdominal cocoon was made and a haemorrhagic aetiology was suggested.