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Median arcuate ligament syndrome (also called celiac axis syndrome and Dunbar syndrome) is a rare condition resulting in symptoms of severe abdominal pain after eating, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. When it occurs in children, it is found more often in girls than boys.

It is caused by the squeezing of the celiac artery, the first major branch off the aorta as it runs from the heart down through the abdomen. But the syndrome is typically discovered by ruling out other causes such as peptic ulcer, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. Several types of imaging are usually necessary, including magnetic resonance angiography or CT angiography.

Symptom relief can be achieved with several types of surgical procedures including minimally invasive techniques.


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