Dunbar syndrome

Q: 49 years old presented to the Emergency room with progressive worsening abdominal pain and weight loss over the last few months. On exam, an abdominal bruit is heard. Patient is sent for CT-Angiography. The radiologist called the report Dunbar syndrome.  

Answer: The exact technical name of Dunbar syndrome is celiac artery compression syndrome, celiac axis syndrome, or median arcuate ligament syndrome. It is a myriad of symptoms due to the compression of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament. Classically, it is a triad of

• postprandial abdominal pain
• weight loss
• abdominal brսit

Many times, a diagnosis is one of exclusion. It may require surgical decompression of the celiac axis. It is four times more common in males and often manifests in middle age.

#surgical-critcal-care

#vascular 

References:

1. Dunbar JD, Molnar W, Beman FF, Marable SA. Compression of the celiac trunk and abdominal angina. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med 1965; 95:731.

2. Iqbal S, Chaudhary M. Median arcuate ligament syndrome (Dunbar syndrome). Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021 Oct;11(5):1172-1176. doi: 10.21037/cdt-20-846. PMID: 34815969; PMCID: PMC8569275.

3. Kim EN, Lamb K, Relles D, et al. Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome-Review of This Rare Disease. JAMA Surg 2016; 151:471.