Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome in a Patient With Chronic Postprandial Pain: Case Report

A Median arcuate ligament syndrome, or Dunbar syndrome, is a rare differential diagnosis for chronic abdominal pain, which is caused by compression of the celiac trunk and adjacent nerve fibers by the median arcuate ligament.Given the few cases described in the literature, this study aims to report a case seen at a referral medical center in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, to better clarify its findings and challenges.CASE REPORT: This is a patient named B.S.R., a 17-year-old male, with chronic epigastric pain that worsens after eating.Findings on angiotomography showed that the celiac trunk had ostial luminal stenosis of subocclusive appearance, due to the compressive effect exerted by the median arcuate ligament.Treatment was performed via videolaparoscopy, to release the affected vessel, with section of the ligament.DISCUSSION: Abdominal pain is a recurrent complaint in emergency rooms, with a range of possible differential diagnoses.Thus, identifying vascular causes can be a challenge, given that extensive diagnostic workup may be necessary, along with imaging tests and investigation of clinical findings.Therefore, it is important to take a critical look at imaging findings, especially vascular elements, in order to correlate them with the symptoms in question, for an assertive clinical diagnosis and effective treatment.