Dunbar Syndrome: Unusual Cause of Chronic Abdominal Pain in Children

Childhood chronic abdominal pain is a diagnostic challenge, with a variety of functional and organic etiologies. Whilst the majority of cases are diagnosed as either functional or dysfunctional, it is imperative that an individual diagnostic assessment is conducted in order to exclude organic causes, thus facilitating a successful management strategy. In instances where alarm-Features are present, it is recommended that investigations be conducted into rare and unusual causes, provided that initial investigations have not yielded a diagnosis. One such rare Entity is Dunbar syndrome, a vascular condition characterized by chronic abdominal pain, which typically manifests during late childhood. This curable cause appears to be more prevalent than what previously hypothesized to be 1.7% in children. We present the case of a 16-year-old female patient has been suffering from severe, unexplained chronic abdominal pain and weight loss for several months. Despite extensive investigations and exploratory laparoscopy, no clear explanation for the patient's symptoms has been found. Our approach was a combination of teamwork, a stepwise approach, and selective investigations. This collaborative effort enabled the successful diagnosis and surgical therapy. We aim to enhance the management of childhood chronic abdominal pain by adapting a cost effective stepwise approach and to raise awareness of Dunbar syndrome.