Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

The symptoms you describe are very similar to my own which started a few years ago. There is much that is unknown about MALS including any congenital and hereditary aspects. I do find it interesting that your uncle has it though. Studies show that MALS is more common than they thought and some people exhibit no symptoms while others have severe, debilitating symptoms. I’ve had CT angiography with and without contrast, mesenteric duplex ultrasound to check blood flow through the celiac artery and compression of the celiac plexus, an MRA and MRV, a swallow test to check flow through the duodenum, and a jugular venogram. Have you had some of these tests done already? I have celiac artery compression syndrome (basically the same as MALS), Nutcracker Syndrome (renal vein compression) and pelvic congestion syndrome (L ovarian varicose vein). These diseases can sometimes present together. Do not let these doctors tell you this is all in your head. Remember that they work for you! Educate yourself and advocate for yourself. I am sending my records to a MALS surgeon in Connecticut for another opinion (Richard Tsu, MD). I found his name on the Facebook MALS Pals support group site. You might be interested in checking that out. I pray that you’ll get some answers and experience relief from these annoying, painful problems soon. Also, you are not alone! There are many of us.

I am a 52 year old male and I have diarrhea with nausea almost everday of my life. I have tested for many things but I just could never get relief. I somewhat learned to deal with the diarrhea by taking questran every morning before eating anything for 2 hours. If not I would get diarrhea within 10 minutes of eating my first meal everyday. I also get spells of severe abdominal pain with my stomach right in the middle under my ribs being ultra sore. I was recently hospitalized and they were thinking pancreatitis but they did a ct scan and found 75 percent stenosis of my celiac trunk artery. They say it is from vasculitis but the the ct scan clearly shows my ligament that attaches to my diaphragm is rapped around my celiac artery. The artery is only 2mm in dia now but the artery just past the ligament is 6.5 mm. It hurts almost all the time now but especially when I exhale. They want me to see a rheumatologist for treatment of vasculitis but I feel I actually have Mals syndrome. Here is a picture of my celiac artery.

I am a 52 year old male and I have diarrhea with nausea almost everday of my life. I have tested for many things but I just could never get relief. I somewhat learned to deal with the diarrhea by taking questran every morning before eating anything for 2 hours. If not I would get diarrhea within 10 minutes of eating my first meal everyday. I also get spells of severe abdominal pain with my stomach right in the middle under my ribs being ultra sore. I was recently hospitalized and they were thinking pancreatitis but they did a ct scan and found 75 percent stenosis of my celiac trunk artery. They say it is from vasculitis but the the ct scan clearly shows my ligament that attaches to my diaphragm is rapped around my celiac artery. The artery is only 2mm in dia now but the artery just past the ligament is 6.5 mm. It hurts almost all the time now but especially when I exhale. They want me to see a rheumatologist for treatment of vasculitis but I feel I actually have Mals syndrome. Here is a picture of my celiac artery.

Hi @jpol and welcome to Connect. Those symptoms must be awful. You may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion on MALS so that you can connect with others who have experience with this and os that you can learn what they have had to say.

I wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members @kariulrich and @jbdforisu as they have experience with this and you may be able to provide support for eachother.

Back to you @jpol have you mentioned to your doctor that you think it is MALS as opposed to vasculitis?

Not yet, I am going to monday

Can I put my pictures back or no.