Papers of the Week

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), is an uncommon condition caused by the extrinsic compression of the celiac trunk (CT) and celiac ganglion, secondary to an anatomical abnormality of the median arcuate ligament fibres. It is characterized by postprandial epigastric pain, chronic abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea and vomiting. MALS is typically diagnosed after the exclusion of other, more common conditions; however, a variety of imaging and diagnostic modalities, including duplex ultrasonography, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, gastric tonometry and angiography can suggest findings consistent with MALS.