Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 16, 2026; 14(20): 122343
Published online Jul 16, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.122343
Published online Jul 16, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.122343
Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis associated with long-term herbal medicine use: A case report
Bing-Jie Li, Yong-Sheng Wang, Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Chun-Yan Duan, Department of Nursing, Shierwei Community Health Service Center, Yang
Xiao-Pu Ma, Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Xiao-Pu Ma, Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, Shaanxi Province, China
Lai-Xia Sun, Department of Preventive Health Care, Shierwei Community Health Service Center, Yangzhou 211400, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Bing-Jie Li and Chun-Yan Duan.
Co-corresponding authors: Xiao-Pu Ma and Lai-Xia Sun.
Author contributions: Li BJ and Duan CY designed the study, have made crucial and indispensable contributions towards the completion of the project and thus qualified as the co-first authors of the paper; Ma XP and Sun LX drafted the manuscript, have played important and indispensable roles in the manuscript preparation as the co-corresponding authors; Li BJ, Duan CY, Wang YS, Ma XP and Sun LX reviewed the literature and revised the manuscript; and all authors approved the final version.
AI contribution statement: Portions of this manuscript were edited using AI tools solely for language refinement. The authors carefully reviewed and verified all AI-assisted outputs and take full responsibility for the scientific content of the manuscript.
Supported by Xizang Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation, No. XZ202401ZR0131.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Lai-Xia Sun, Department of Preventive Health Care, Shierwei Com
Received: April 17, 2026
Revised: May 20, 2026
Accepted: June 16, 2026
Published online: July 16, 2026
Processing time: 83 Days and 18.3 Hours
Revised: May 20, 2026
Accepted: June 16, 2026
Published online: July 16, 2026
Processing time: 83 Days and 18.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis should be considered in patients presenting with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of long-term gardenia-containing herbal medicine use. Characteristic linear mesenteric venous calcifications on computed tomography are the key diagnostic clue. Adenoma-like histological changes may occur but their malignant potential remains uncertain. Conservative management with discontinuation of implicated herbal medicine can achieve favorable outcomes in patients without severe complications. Long-term surveillance is recommended when adenoma-like changes are present.