Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: The Past and the Future.

Kevin Ratnasamy, Rinarani Sanghavi

Journal: Gastroenterology clinics of North America 2025;54(3):589-595

PMID: 40752918

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare condition characterized by chronic abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Symptoms of MALS are nonspecific and overlap with those of other, more common, disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs). A duplex ultrasound is the recommended first diagnostic modality after clinical history and examination, and after ruling out DGBIs. Specific protocols for this are recommended to get accurate results. For true mesenteric ischemia caused by MALS, surgery may be helpful to decompress the celiac artery. Benefits are limited, and the clinician should ensure that all other considerations, including mental health, have been assessed.

Address: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 730 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA.; Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2025.02.003

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome, Celiac Artery, Constriction, Pathologic, Abdominal Pain, Decompression, Surgical