Mesenteric Lymphadenitis Due toYersinia enterocolitica: Report of a Case

This report describes a case of mesenteric lymphadenitis, proven by culture to be caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, in an infant, receiving massive steroid therapy. The organism was grown from an inflamed mesenteric lymph node showing discrete areas of necrosis with a histiocytic inflammatory reaction, which was obtained incidentally at the time of pancreatectomy for hypoglycemia. There was no clinically evident indication of the infection. The characteristics of the organism and its significance as a cause of disease are discussed. It is suggested that more examples will be encountered in this country if inflamed, surgically resected, mesenteric lymph nodes are routinely cultured.