It is often seen in children, who present with abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. On examination, pressure pain in the right lower abdomen and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes are seen on abdominal ultrasound, usually due to mesenteric lymphadenitis, and rarely due to mesenteric lymph node tuberculosis.
Advanced tumours such as stomach, bowel and ovarian cancers may also present with metastases to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Lymphoma, a systemic disease, also causes swollen lymph nodes due to involvement of mesenteric lymph nodes.