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What is MALS?

Though MALS is not a gastrointestinal disorder, it presents with many gastrointestinal symptoms including pain after eating, nausea and/or vomiting, constipation and/or diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can make MALS difficult to diagnose, as doctors will often search for a gastrointestinal cause. However, MALS often comes with other symptoms unrelated to the gastrointestinal system, including fatigue, exercise intolerance, and positional discomfort. MALS is often diagnosed using an abdominal CT with contrast or a doppler mesenteric ultrasound--however, it is imperative in both cases that the doctors and technicians performing the tests and reading the results are knowledgable…

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 Arterial Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (aMALS)

Median arcuate ligament syndrom (MALS), also known as celiac axis compression syndrome (CACS) and its eponym Dunbar Syndrome, is manifest as epigastric abdominal pain and a compendium of symptoms, arising from chronic compression and inflammation resulting from compression of the celiac plexus between the median arcuate ligament and the celiac axis.

 Do You Have MALS?

Median arcuate ligament syndrome, or (MALS), is a rare, complex, under-diagnosed disease that often causes chronic, debilitating pain in the upper part of the abdomen. People with MALS are born with an anatomic abnormality of the their diaphragm and median arcuate ligament, causing the median arcuate ligament to compress the celiac artery, a major branch of the abdominal aorta, and the celiac nerve ganglion and plexus of nerves. This pressure can lead to blood flow changes, as well as nerve entrapment and inflammation, resulting in extreme pain, sitophobia (fear of eating), significant weight loss, constipation and diarrhea.

Articles of Interest

Diagnosis of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome on Multidetector Computed Tomography

The median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), also known as celiac artery compression syndrome, is a condition which develops secondary to an ischemia in gastrointestinal organs resulting from the compression of proximal celiac truncus by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. It is characterized by postprandial abdominal pain or weight loss. The MALS is conventionally diagnosed by angiography; however, currently the condition can also be diagnosed with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT)

Increased Awareness of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome Could Help Treat Unexplained Abdominal Pain

The condition can result in abdominal pain that is constant and worsens with meals, or only occurs when eating. Furthermore, lack of treatment can lead to anorexia, weight loss, malnutrition and mood/sleep disorders.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) describes the clinical presentation associated with direct compression of the celiac artery by the median arcuate ligament. The poorly understood pathophysiologic mechanism, variable symptom severity, and unpredictable response to treatment make MALS a controversial diagnosis.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (Dunbar syndrome)

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare condition which is due to the compression of celiac trunk by low riding of fibrous attachments of median arcuate ligament and diaphragmatic crura. Technically, MALS is a diagnosis of exclusion, consisting of vague symptoms comprising of postprandial epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and unexplained weight loss. Different imaging modalities like Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and mesenteric angiogram are helpful to demonstrate celiac axis compression

Median arcuate ligament syndrome often poses a diagnostic challenge: A literature review with a scope of our own experience

The median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is recognized as a rare clinical entity, characterized by chronic post-prandial abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and unintentional weight loss. Due to its vague symptomatology, it is mainly regarded as a diagnosis of exclusion.

Teamwork frees patient from severe pain, nausea caused by median arcuate ligament syndrome

With the help of surgical teamwork that is unique in Colorado, Anna Bajaj recovered from a rare condition called median arcuate ligament syndrome that unexpectedly disrupted her life.

Why Was This Woman Suffering From Terrible, Unrelenting Stomach Pain?

The problem started around Thanksgiving. Her stomach felt a little odd. Over the next few weeks, the feeling became a band of pain, and then it concentrated itself in a single spot on her belly. The pain came and went, but it seemed worst after she ate.

Resources

MALS Awareness

We are a dedicated team of patients and caretakers working to raise awareness for Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) by providing information to educate providers and the wider public. We believe that awareness is the first step to diagnosis, and a diagnosis is the first step to a new life.

National MALS Foundation

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome is also known as: MALS, Celiac Artery Compression Syndrome (CACS), Dunbar Syndrome and Harjola-Marable Syndrome. The National MALS Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of providing hope and support (body, mind and spirit) to those suffering from the debilitating symptoms of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) through Advocacy, Awareness, Education, and Research within the clinical and mainstream communities.

MalaCards

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome, also known as celiac artery compression syndrome, is related to pain syndrome and microinvasive gastric cancer. An important gene associated with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome is ATP12A (ATPase H+/K+ Transporting Non-Gastric Alpha2 Subunit). The drugs Morphine and Anesthetics have been mentioned in the context of this disorder. Affiliated tissues include liver and t cells.