1. < Digestive Health
Profile picture for Kari Ulrich, Alumna Mentor

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Posted by Kari Ulrich, Alumna Mentor @kariulrich, Dec 26, 2016

I am looking for other patients that have been diagnosed with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome. Although it is caused by compression of the celiac artery many people experience abdominal pain after eating, diarrhea, food avoidance. Usually the first doctors they see are GI doctors. It is a diagnosis that is made after everything else is ruled out. I am curious if anyone else has had surgery?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for bunty
bunty | @bunty | Apr 18, 2025

Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i have zero MALS symptoms. Any thoughts if I should take action or not. Thanks

REPLY
3 replies
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Apr 18, 2025
In reply to @bunty "Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i..." + (show)
Profile picture for bunty @bunty

Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i have zero MALS symptoms. Any thoughts if I should take action or not. Thanks

Jump to this post

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @bunty. Not surprising you'd be asking if you should take action if you have a MALS diagnosis and no symptoms.

Hoping members like @kariulrich @graceym1 @katiero123 @ankit22784 @mamabear80 @astaingegerdm will have some thoughts for you on the MALS diagnosis with no symptoms and how to proceed.

What did your doctor say about what you should do next, bunty?

REPLY
Profile picture for bunty
bunty | @bunty | Apr 19, 2025

Looks like I am told go and talk to a surgeon. I do not want to …

REPLY
Profile picture for Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Apr 19, 2025

@bunty
I had MALS surgery 2015 - I had symptoms.
I was told that many are found to have MALS on postmortem for other reasons, but never had symptoms.
It sounds like a good plan to speak to a vascular surgeon.
More tests may be done and you may not necessarily need surgery now.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for bunty
bunty | @bunty | Apr 19, 2025
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@bunty I had MALS surgery 2015 - I had symptoms. I was told that many are..." + (show)
Profile picture for Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor @astaingegerdm

@bunty
I had MALS surgery 2015 - I had symptoms.
I was told that many are found to have MALS on postmortem for other reasons, but never had symptoms.
It sounds like a good plan to speak to a vascular surgeon.
More tests may be done and you may not necessarily need surgery now.

Jump to this post

Tx

REPLY
Profile picture for graceym1
graceym1 | @graceym1 | Apr 20, 2025
In reply to @bunty "Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i..." + (show)
Profile picture for bunty @bunty

Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i have zero MALS symptoms. Any thoughts if I should take action or not. Thanks

Jump to this post

You need to get to a vascular surgeons office or cardiology and have a special ultrasound performed with breathing protocols. This is the definitive test for Mals and the amount of compression you have. Also you’ll need to go to gi dr to have tests done to rule out things that may be similar in symptoms like barium swallow, ph impedence test, there are many that I had. Good luck! Keep in touch. Let us know how you’re doing. 🙏🏻

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for 329751
329751 | @329751 | Apr 20, 2025
In reply to @bunty "Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i..." + (show)
Profile picture for bunty @bunty

Was diagnosed for MALS today (did a CT scan for other reasons and found MALS)..but i have zero MALS symptoms. Any thoughts if I should take action or not. Thanks

Jump to this post

No

REPLY
Profile picture for bunty
bunty | @bunty | Apr 20, 2025
In reply to @graceym1 "You need to get to a vascular surgeons office or cardiology and have a special ultrasound..." + (show)
Profile picture for graceym1 @graceym1

You need to get to a vascular surgeons office or cardiology and have a special ultrasound performed with breathing protocols. This is the definitive test for Mals and the amount of compression you have. Also you’ll need to go to gi dr to have tests done to rule out things that may be similar in symptoms like barium swallow, ph impedence test, there are many that I had. Good luck! Keep in touch. Let us know how you’re doing. 🙏🏻

Jump to this post

Tx !

REPLY
Profile picture for bunty
bunty | @bunty | Apr 21, 2025
In reply to @graceym1 "You need to get to a vascular surgeons office or cardiology and have a special ultrasound..." + (show)
Profile picture for graceym1 @graceym1

You need to get to a vascular surgeons office or cardiology and have a special ultrasound performed with breathing protocols. This is the definitive test for Mals and the amount of compression you have. Also you’ll need to go to gi dr to have tests done to rule out things that may be similar in symptoms like barium swallow, ph impedence test, there are many that I had. Good luck! Keep in touch. Let us know how you’re doing. 🙏🏻

Jump to this post

Went to vascular surgeon. He said if no symptoms and if i can gain weight back (by eating more), then this CT scan was a false positive. Do not worry about MALS

REPLY
1 reply
Please sign in or register to post a reply.